Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2022
![Dave Johns Dave Johns](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/people/900x450/d/dave_johns_2022.jpg)
British Comedy Guide has now completed its customary analysis of all Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy show coverage, and is able to disclose which productions critics preferred.
In 2019 we noted there was a drop in press output compared to 2018, and posited this might be due to a combination of rising accommodation costs and lack of funding for the press making it harder for reviewers to attend the festival. We can now confirm that 2022 has seen a further 25% reduction in reviews for comedies staged at the Fringe.
This year we found 2,450 reviews from across the media to determine this list, compared to 4,700 reviews in 2018. Based upon the 25% drop in volume of reviews on 2019, we have also dropped by a quarter our minimum-rating-count requirement for inclusion in the list, from eight to six.
Here are all comedies that attained an average star rating of more than 4.0 across all ratings they received. Click on the each title to see the respective reviews.
![Dave Johns: A Comic's Tale. Dave Johns Dave Johns: A Comic's Tale. Dave Johns](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/dave_johns.jpg)
![Jordan Gray: Is It a Bird?. Jordan Gray Jordan Gray: Is It a Bird?. Jordan Gray](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/jordan_gray.jpg)
![Paul Sinha: One Sinha Lifetime. Paul Sinha Paul Sinha: One Sinha Lifetime. Paul Sinha](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/paul_sinha.jpg)
Paul Sinha: One Sinha Lifetime
![Mischief Movie Night Mischief Movie Night](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/mischief_movie_night.jpg)
![Olga Koch: Just Friends. Olga Koch Olga Koch: Just Friends. Olga Koch](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/olga_koch.jpg)
![Tim Key: Mulberry. Tim Key Tim Key: Mulberry. Tim Key](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/tim_key.jpg)
![Garry Starr: Greece Lightning. Damien Warren-Smith Garry Starr: Greece Lightning. Damien Warren-Smith](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/garry_starr.jpg)
![Liz Kingsman: One-Woman Show. Liz Kingsman Liz Kingsman: One-Woman Show. Liz Kingsman](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/liz_kingsman.jpg)
![Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann. Colin Hoult Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann. Colin Hoult](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/colin_hoult.jpg)
Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann
![Ellie MacPherson: Happy Birthday, Mr. President!. Ellie MacPherson Ellie MacPherson: Happy Birthday, Mr. President!. Ellie MacPherson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/ellie_macpherson.jpg)
Ellie MacPherson: Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
![Amy Gledhill: The Girl Before The Girl You Marry. Amy Gledhill Amy Gledhill: The Girl Before The Girl You Marry. Amy Gledhill](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/amy_gledhill.jpg)
Amy Gledhill: The Girl Before The Girl You Marry
![Rhys Nicholson - Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!. Rhys Nicholson Rhys Nicholson - Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!. Rhys Nicholson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/rhys_nicholson.jpg)
Rhys Nicholson - Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!
![Flo & Joan: Sweet Release. Image shows from L to R: Nicola Dempsey, Rosie Dempsey Flo & Joan: Sweet Release. Image shows from L to R: Nicola Dempsey, Rosie Dempsey](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/flo_joan.jpg)
![Glenn Moore: Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I'm Sixty Moore. Glenn Moore Glenn Moore: Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I'm Sixty Moore. Glenn Moore](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/glenn_moore.jpg)
Glenn Moore: Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I'm Sixty Moore
![Tarot: Cautionary Tales Tarot: Cautionary Tales](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/tarot.jpg)
![Maisie Adam: Buzzed. Maisie Adam Maisie Adam: Buzzed. Maisie Adam](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/maisie_adam.jpg)
![Larry Dean: Fudnut. Larry Dean Larry Dean: Fudnut. Larry Dean](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/larry_dean.jpg)
![Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!. Leo Reich Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!. Leo Reich](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/leo_reich.jpg)
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!
![Mr Chonkers Mr Chonkers](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/john_norris.jpg)
![Mark Thomas: Black and White Mark Thomas: Black and White](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/mark_thomas.jpg)
![Bianca Del Rio: Unsanitized. Bianca Del Rio Bianca Del Rio: Unsanitized. Bianca Del Rio](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/bianca_del_rio.jpg)
![Posey Mehta: I Am Not a Gorilla Posey Mehta: I Am Not a Gorilla](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/posey_mehta.jpg)
Posey Mehta: I Am Not a Gorilla
![Starship Improvise Starship Improvise](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/starship_improvise.jpg)
![Crybabies: Bagbeard Crybabies: Bagbeard](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/crybabies.jpg)
![Emily Wilson: Fixed. Emily Wilson Emily Wilson: Fixed. Emily Wilson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/emily_wilson.jpg)
![Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore. Alasdair Beckett-King Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore. Alasdair Beckett-King](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/alasdair_beckett_king.jpg)
Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore
![Myra DuBois' A Problem Shared. Gareth Joyner Myra DuBois' A Problem Shared. Gareth Joyner](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/myra_dubois.jpg)
![Vir Das: Wanted. Vir Das Vir Das: Wanted. Vir Das](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/vir_das.jpg)
![Jazz Emu: You Shouldn't Have. Archie Henderson Jazz Emu: You Shouldn't Have. Archie Henderson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/jazz_emu.jpg)
![Tiff Stevenson: Sexy Brain. Tiffany Stevenson Tiff Stevenson: Sexy Brain. Tiffany Stevenson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/tiff_stevenson.jpg)
![Jordan Brookes: This Is Just What Happens. Jordan Brookes Jordan Brookes: This Is Just What Happens. Jordan Brookes](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/jordan_brookes.jpg)
Jordan Brookes: This Is Just What Happens
![Christian Brighty: Playboy. Christian Brighty Christian Brighty: Playboy. Christian Brighty](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/christian_brighty.jpg)
![Angela Barnes: Hot Mess. Angela Barnes Angela Barnes: Hot Mess. Angela Barnes](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/angela_barnes.jpg)
![Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability. Heath McIvor Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability. Heath McIvor](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/randy_feltface.jpg)
Randy Feltface: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
![Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy'd!. Milo McCabe Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy'd!. Milo McCabe](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/troy_hawke-2022_06_23.jpg)
![Lou Sanders: One Word: Wow. Lou Sanders Lou Sanders: One Word: Wow. Lou Sanders](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/lou_sanders.jpg)
![Britney: Friends and Nothing More. Image shows from L to R: Charly Clive, Ellen Robertson Britney: Friends and Nothing More. Image shows from L to R: Charly Clive, Ellen Robertson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/britney.jpg)
Britney: Friends and Nothing More
![Frankie Thompson: Catts. Frankie Thompson Frankie Thompson: Catts. Frankie Thompson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/frankie_thompson.jpg)
![Buffy: Revamped. Brendan Murphy Buffy: Revamped. Brendan Murphy](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/brendan_murphy.jpg)
![Chloe Petts: Transience. Chloe Petts Chloe Petts: Transience. Chloe Petts](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/chloe_petts.jpg)
![Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Showstopper! The Improvised Musical](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/showstopper_the_improvised_musical.jpg)
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
![ALOK. Alok Vaid-Menon ALOK. Alok Vaid-Menon](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/alok.jpg)
![Catherine Bohart: This Isn't For You. Catherine Bohart Catherine Bohart: This Isn't For You. Catherine Bohart](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/catherine_bohart.jpg)
Catherine Bohart: This Isn't For You
![How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Movie Musical CATS. Linus Karp How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Movie Musical CATS. Linus Karp](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/linus_karp.jpg)
How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Movie Musical CATS
![Jake Lambert: Liminal. Jake Lambert Jake Lambert: Liminal. Jake Lambert](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/jake_lambert.jpg)
![Helen Bauer: Madam Good Tit. Helen Bauer Helen Bauer: Madam Good Tit. Helen Bauer](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/helen_bauer.jpg)
![Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not. Ania Magliano Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not. Ania Magliano](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/ania_magliano.jpg)
Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not
![Josh Pugh: Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh, Chips and Beans. Josh Pugh Josh Pugh: Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh, Chips and Beans. Josh Pugh](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/josh_pugh.jpg)
Josh Pugh: Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh, Chips and Beans
![Pierre Novellie: Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?. Pierre Novellie Pierre Novellie: Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?. Pierre Novellie](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/pierre_novellie.jpg)
Pierre Novellie: Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?
![Speed Dial Speed Dial](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/speed_dial.jpg)
![Julia Masli: CHOOSH!. Julia Masli Julia Masli: CHOOSH!. Julia Masli](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/julia_masli.jpg)
![John Hastings: Do You Have Any Ointment My John Hastings. John Hastings John Hastings: Do You Have Any Ointment My John Hastings. John Hastings](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/john_hastings.jpg)
John Hastings: Do You Have Any Ointment My John Hastings
![Alison Spittle: Wet. Alison Spittle Alison Spittle: Wet. Alison Spittle](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/alison_spittle.jpg)
![Hal Cruttenden: It's Best You Hear It From Me. Hal Cruttenden Hal Cruttenden: It's Best You Hear It From Me. Hal Cruttenden](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/hal_cruttenden.jpg)
Hal Cruttenden: It's Best You Hear It From Me
![Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Home Truths. Kiri Pritchard-McLean Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Home Truths. Kiri Pritchard-McLean](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/kiri_pritchard_mclean.jpg)
Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Home Truths
![Kate Barron: Losing Myself. Kate Barron Kate Barron: Losing Myself. Kate Barron](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/kate_barron.jpg)
![Delightful Sausage: Nowt but Sea. Image shows from L to R: Amy Gledhill, Chris Cantrill Delightful Sausage: Nowt but Sea. Image shows from L to R: Amy Gledhill, Chris Cantrill](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/delightful_sausage.jpg)
The Delightful Sausage: Nowt but Sea
![Seann Walsh: Is Dead. Happy Now?. Seann Walsh Seann Walsh: Is Dead. Happy Now?. Seann Walsh](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/seann_walsh.jpg)
Seann Walsh: Is Dead. Happy Now?
![Lara Ricote: GRL/LATNX/DEF. Lara Ricote Lara Ricote: GRL/LATNX/DEF. Lara Ricote](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/lara_ricote.jpg)
![Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle. Henry Lewis Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle. Henry Lewis](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2022/250x250/henry_lewis.jpg)
Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle
Our methodology does not distinguish between established/professional/broadsheet reviewers and blogs run by fans and students: we count all ratings published. It should also be noted that there is a clear bias in this list - and in live comedy reviewing in general - towards established and acclaimed comedy acts who are able to attract more critics to see them in the first place: a number of hidden gems will doubtless have been overlooked from this list as a result. For example, Neil Delamere didn't make the threshold of receiving six ratings, but the one reviewer who did see his show gave it a full five stars.
Do browse our listings to find other comedians to look out for in the months ahead - there's much more to live comedy than a reviewer's personal opinion of what is "good".
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