The comics turning tragedy into laughs

A former alcoholic, a cancer survivor and a man who lost all his money in a Bitcoin crash are among the comics coming back from the brink at the Edinburgh fringe.

Olga Koch: My father is a wanted man in Russia

Before fleeing from Putin's regime, Olga Koch's dad was president Yeltsin's right-hand man. Isn't that a risky topic for her comedy show, asks Nick Curtis.

Vladimir McTavish on paying Fringe staff properly

While some venues, notably The Stand and Summerhall, pay their staff the Living Wage, there are a number of promoters on the Fringe who are dragging their heels in terms of properly recompensing their front-of-house and bar staff, many of whom will be working 12-hour shifts and not having a whole load of fun while the rest of the city parties into the night.

Rhys Nicholson on his new Fringe show Seminal

Aussie comedian Rhys Nicholson is on his way to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival, and en route he kindly answered a Q&A for us about the show he'll be performing there - Seminal. Here's what he sent back, and everything you need to know about the show...

Interview: rarely asked questions - Natalie Palamides

Natalie Palamides won the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Award for a show in which she hatched from an egg onstage and cooked food for everyone on a camping stove while performing. Follow that?

Jim Tavaré on returning to comedy

'I almost died three times'

Chris Henry: Edinburgh Fringe 2018 interview

Chris Henry interview.

10 international comedy recommendations

We've tried to avoid those international acts who are based in the UK and focused on performers who are making a less common appearance in the country.

5 Fringe theatre shows we already know are great

Here are five proven hits.

Laura Lexx picks her Perfect Playlist

'I can picture what Billy Connolly's talking about... down to the last jobby'

Charmian Hughes: Bra Trek interview

Kate Stone managed to catch up with Charmian to talk about her new show and why she is not to be confused with Miriam Margolyes...

You have to be joking? Kwame Asante

Kwame Asante interview.

Fringe 2018 - Charlie Partridge

Charlie Partridge (host of The Moth Live in London, international hit Rebel Bingo and one half of fringe hit sketch duo Robin & Partridge) tried to be cool while falling in love. This mistake and others took him on an adventure.

Interview : Jack's back in Edinburgh

Jack Docherty is well-known to many particularly in Edinburgh; those who are in the Absolutely fan club, and those who love him in the Comedy Unit's Scot Squad.

Fringe 2018 - Ciarán Dowd, Don Rodolfo

Don Rodolfo will take you on a journey through 17th century Europe.

Siblings: Edinburgh Fringe 2018 interview

Siblings interview.

Preview: Fringe shows to explore the NHS at 70

These are the nerdiest shows at the Fringe

Nerd culture has arrived at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with AI, Star Trek and Doctor Who all making appearances.

The Not Very Holy Grail

It is the most famous anti-climax in cinematic history. Probably. King Arthur leads his army to the water's edge to do final battle with the enemy. Smoke drifts across what must soon become a scene of medieval slaughter. And then a police car and a black maria appear. King Arthur is arrested for an earlier offence and unarmed police move the whole army on. Thus ends Monty Python And The Holy Grail.

Unrestrained swearing by some very naughty boys

The most memorable insults in Monty Python And The Holy Grail featured no swearwords, although King Arthur and his knights had to endure threats of a "fart in your general direction" as well as the suggestion that their mothers were hamsters and their fathers smelt of elderberries.

Edinburgh Comedy Awards panel revealed

The judging panel has been announced for the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Bilal Zafar recalls his unforgettable 5 comedy moments

Worst gig? Being ignored by millionaires.

What's the oddest prop you've used at the Fringe?

'We ended up sleeping in our 6ft vagina'

Ada Campe: Edinburgh Fringe 2018 interview

Ada Campe interview.

Patrick Monahan: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Patrick Monahan interview.

Looking for a little politics with your Fringe comedy?

Fringe comedy shows to see that tackle (in their diverse ways) some of the issues du jour.

Fringe Wives Club interview

A trio hellbent on making feminist cabaret-comedy with a banging soundtrack.

Stuart Goldsmith interview

The man behind the acclaimed Comedian's Comedian podcast and some excellent Fringe hours down the years tells all how he survives August and what he plans to do at the 2019 festival.

Alex Edelman interview

The 2014 Best Newcomer winner is back with his third and most personal hour of stand-up yet.

Imran Yusuf: 'I realised both extremes were untenable'

With his coming of middle-age show, the Kenya-born, London-raised comic tackles hypocrisy and judgement and aims to improve the world, bit by bit.

Reginald D. Hunter interview

The rabble-rousing American will complete his 13th full Fringe hour with new show that continues with his love of contentious titles.

Jamali Maddix interview

The comedian and host of Vice's Hate Thy Neighbour takes time off from the dangerous situations to come to Edinburgh.

Sanderson Jones interview

The 'former' comedian and co-creator of the non-religious Sunday Assembly events tells us that he wants to create a whole new category in the Fringe programme.

Jordan Brookes: Bleed, Edinburgh preview

In the second of our Edinburgh previews, Ian Cater speaks to unconventional stand-up Jordan Brookes about Bleed, perhaps the most eagerly anticipated show at the year's Fringe.

An interview with Nicky Wilkinson

Nicky Wilkinson interview.

An interview with Sam Russell

Sam Russell is coming up from London on the sleek, slick wings of the Angel Comedy night. The Mumble caught him for a wee, mid-flight blether ...

Interview: Shaun Nolan

Nineteen-year-old Shaun Nolan is taking the plunge and making his debut at Edinburgh Fringe this year, written, directed and performed by himself.

Comedy messiahs? Python often weren't funny at all

Much like Basil Fawlty pummelling his uncooperative Austin 1100 Countryman with a weaponised twig, John Cleese has been lashing out at the BBC over what he believes is the corporation's refusal to air repeats of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Scott Gibson's rough guide to the Edinburgh Fringe

About to embark on his third Fringe show, Glasgow comic Scott took us to some of his favourite Edinburgh hot spots.

Anya Anastasia holds up a mirror to Western culture

Her new contemporary cabaret Fringe, The Executioners, show gets political as it takes a satirical swipe at the troubled world we live in.

Preview - Charlie Partridge

Charlie Partridge, like many others has made mistakes.

BWW Q&A- Graham Dickson

BWW catches up with Graham Dickson to chat about bringing Timber to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Red Box podcast: Hall, Green, Novellie

Matt Chorley is joined by three comedians taking political shows to the Edinburgh fringe.

Comedians on their Fringe Bugbears

From revolting rooms to soggy sarnies, we speak to several Fringe folk about what really grinds their gears in August.

From the Kremlin to Comedy: Olga Koch interview

Olga Koch talks moving from the Kremlin to comedy in her debut Edinburgh Fringe hour, Fight.

It was a Midsummer Night's Dream... with scrumpy

My show is called The Year of Magical Fucking but I thought it might be nice to write about something that happened outside that year, in a simpler time, 2010: the last ever time I had sex with a woman. I was also the last man that she had sex with (because she is also gay... she didn't die or anything).

Interview: Stevie Martin

As the Edinburgh Fringe Festival arrives, this year will see Durham University graduate Stevie Martin make her solo comedic debut. We catch up with the comedienne to see how she's feeling ahead of opening night.

Stevie Martin interview

There's a peculiar ritual that makes perfect sense to comedian Stevie Martin at the Edinburgh Festival.

Bridget Christie: Why I'm looking for Utopia

Civilisation is collapsing and the world is in chaos, so comedian Bridget Christie is searching for her own personal Shangri-La in a four-part series on Radio 4. As if it wasn't already obvious, here she explains why.