Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2023
![Tragedy Plus Time. Ed Byrne. Credit: Roslyn Gaunt Tragedy Plus Time. Ed Byrne. Credit: Roslyn Gaunt](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/people/900x450/e/ed_byrne_tragedy_plus_time.jpg)
Ed Byrne was the best-reviewed stand-up comic performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, analysis conducted by British Comedy Guide has found.
This year's run-down of the most critically-acclaimed comedy productions being staged at the Fringe is based on 4,644 star-rated reviews issued by 119 different publications, ranging from broadsheet newspapers through to fan-run blogs.
With an average rating of 4.6 stars across twenty-two write-ups, Byrne's Tragedy Plus Time was the best-reviewed stand-up show at the festival. Meanwhile, Brendan Murphy's parody Buffy Revamped, in tribute to long-running American TV fantasy drama Buffy The Vampire Slayer, topped the list overall, collecting up an average list of 4.9 stars from the 8 reviews it received.
In descending order of scoring, the following productions received six or more reviews and, from those, scored an average score of more than 4 stars. Click on any title to see the show's respective reviews and other coverage.
![Buffy Revamped. Brendan Murphy Buffy Revamped. Brendan Murphy](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/buffy_revamped.jpg)
![Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back. Reuben Kaye Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back. Reuben Kaye](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/reuben_kaye.jpg)
![Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Showstopper! The Improvised Musical](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/showstopper_the_improvised_musical.jpg)
![How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Musical Cats. Linus Karp How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Musical Cats. Linus Karp](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/linus_karp.jpg)
![Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time. Ed Byrne Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time. Ed Byrne](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/ed_byrne.jpg)
![Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/man_who_thought_he_knew_too_much.jpg)
The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much
![Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel. Austentatious Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel. Austentatious](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/austentatious.jpg)
![My Last Two Brain Cells. Image shows left to right: Tom Hazelden, Joe Pike My Last Two Brain Cells. Image shows left to right: Tom Hazelden, Joe Pike](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/my_last_two_brain_cells.jpg)
![Police Cops: The Musical. Image shows left to right: Tom Roe, Nathan Parkinson, Zachary Hunt Police Cops: The Musical. Image shows left to right: Tom Roe, Nathan Parkinson, Zachary Hunt](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/police_cops.jpg)
![Holly Spillar: Hole. Holly Spillar Holly Spillar: Hole. Holly Spillar](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/holly_spillar.jpg)
![Kieran Hodgson: Big In Scotland. Kieran Hodgson Kieran Hodgson: Big In Scotland. Kieran Hodgson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/kieran_hodgson.jpg)
![Michelle Brasier: Reform. Michelle Brasier Michelle Brasier: Reform. Michelle Brasier](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/michelle_brasier.jpg)
![Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Julia Masli Julia Masli: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Julia Masli](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/julia_masli_ha_ha.jpg)
![Bill O'Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers. Bill O'Neill Bill O'Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers. Bill O'Neill](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/bill_oneill.jpg)
Bill O'Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers
![Stamptown Comedy Night Stamptown Comedy Night](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/stamptown_comedy_night.jpg)
![Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome. Jon Culshaw Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome. Jon Culshaw](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/jon_culshaw.jpg)
![Paul Foot: Dissolve. Paul Foot Paul Foot: Dissolve. Paul Foot](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/paul_foot.jpg)
![Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show. Phil Ellis Phil Ellis's Excellent Comedy Show. Phil Ellis](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/phil_ellis.jpg)
![Mark Watson: Search. Mark Watson Mark Watson: Search. Mark Watson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/mark_watson.jpg)
![Drag Queens vs Vampires. Image shows left to right: Kate Butch, Crudi Dench Drag Queens vs Vampires. Image shows left to right: Kate Butch, Crudi Dench](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/drag_queens_vs_vampires.jpg)
![Gyles Brandreth Can't Stop Talking!. Gyles Brandreth Gyles Brandreth Can't Stop Talking!. Gyles Brandreth](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/gyles_brandreth.jpg)
![Pierre Novellie: Why Are You Laughing?. Pierre Novellie Pierre Novellie: Why Are You Laughing?. Pierre Novellie](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/pierre_novellie.jpg)
![Myra DuBois. Gareth Joyner Myra DuBois. Gareth Joyner](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/myra_dubois.jpg)
![Ahir Shah: Ends. Ahir Shah Ahir Shah: Ends. Ahir Shah](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/ahir_shah.jpg)
![Marjolein Robertson: Marj. Marjolein Robertson Marjolein Robertson: Marj. Marjolein Robertson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/marjolein_robertson.jpg)
![Monét X Change: Life Be Lifein'. Monét X Change Monét X Change: Life Be Lifein'. Monét X Change](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/monet_x_change.jpg)
![YUCK Circus YUCK Circus](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/yuck_circus.jpg)
![BATSU! BATSU!](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/batsu.jpg)
![Paul Merton's Impro Chums. Paul Merton Paul Merton's Impro Chums. Paul Merton](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/paul_mertons_impro_chums.jpg)
![Susie McCabe: Femme Fatality. Susie McCabe Susie McCabe: Femme Fatality. Susie McCabe](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/susie_mccabe.jpg)
![Garrett Millerick: Never Had It So Good. Garrett Millerick Garrett Millerick: Never Had It So Good. Garrett Millerick](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/garrett_millerick.jpg)
![Mat Ewins: Mr TikTok. Mat Ewins Mat Ewins: Mr TikTok. Mat Ewins](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/mat_ewins.jpg)
![Murder, She Didn't Write Murder, She Didn't Write](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/murder_she_didnt_write.jpg)
![Robin Ince - MELONS: A Love Letter to Stand-Up Comedy. Robin Ince Robin Ince - MELONS: A Love Letter to Stand-Up Comedy. Robin Ince](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/robin_ince.jpg)
![Sofie Hagen: Banglord. Sofie Hagen Sofie Hagen: Banglord. Sofie Hagen](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/sofie_hagen.jpg)
![Lorna Rose Treen: Skin Pigeon. Lorna Rose Treen Lorna Rose Treen: Skin Pigeon. Lorna Rose Treen](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/lorna_rose_treen.jpg)
![Rosalie Minnitt: Clementine. Rosalie Minnitt Rosalie Minnitt: Clementine. Rosalie Minnitt](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/rosalie_minnitt.jpg)
![Liam Withnail: Chronic Boom. Liam Withnail Liam Withnail: Chronic Boom. Liam Withnail](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/liam_withnail.jpg)
![MC Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton. Will Naameh MC Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton. Will Naameh](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/mc_hammersmith.jpg)
![Robin Ince - Weapons of Empathy. Robin Ince Robin Ince - Weapons of Empathy. Robin Ince](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/robin_ince_weapons_of_empathy.jpg)
Robin Ince: Weapons Of Empathy
![Sid Singh: Table for One. Sid Singh Sid Singh: Table for One. Sid Singh](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/sid_singh.jpg)
![Simon Brodkin: Xavier. Simon Brodkin Simon Brodkin: Xavier. Simon Brodkin](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/simon_brodkin.jpg)
![Magic of Terry Pratchett Magic of Terry Pratchett](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/marc_burrows.jpg)
![Tim Murray: Witches. Tim Murray Tim Murray: Witches. Tim Murray](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/tim_murray.jpg)
![George Zacharopoulos: Wonderland. George Zacharopoulos George Zacharopoulos: Wonderland. George Zacharopoulos](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/george_zacharopoulos.jpg)
![Chris Turner: Vegas, Baby!. Chris Turner Chris Turner: Vegas, Baby!. Chris Turner](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/chris_turner.jpg)
![Jay Lafferty: Bahookie. Jay Lafferty Jay Lafferty: Bahookie. Jay Lafferty](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/jay_lafferty.jpg)
![Lucas O'Neil: Emotional Man. Lucas O'Neil Lucas O'Neil: Emotional Man. Lucas O'Neil](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/lucas_oneil.jpg)
![Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction. Image shows left to right: David Collins, Shane Dundas Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction. Image shows left to right: David Collins, Shane Dundas](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/umbilical_brothers.jpg)
![Last Stand on Honey Hill. Liz Cotton Last Stand on Honey Hill. Liz Cotton](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/liz_cotton.jpg)
![Micky Overman: The Precipice. Micky Overman Micky Overman: The Precipice. Micky Overman](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/micky_overman.jpg)
![Ania Magliano: I Can't Believe You've Done This. Ania Magliano Ania Magliano: I Can't Believe You've Done This. Ania Magliano](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/ania_magliano.jpg)
![Ian Smith: Crushing. Ian Smith Ian Smith: Crushing. Ian Smith](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/ian_smith.jpg)
![Lachlan Werner - Voices Of Evil. Lachlan Werner Lachlan Werner - Voices Of Evil. Lachlan Werner](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/lachlan_werner.jpg)
![John Tothill: The Last Living Libertine. John Tothill John Tothill: The Last Living Libertine. John Tothill](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/john_tothill.jpg)
![Matty Hutson: Don't Hold Back. Matty Hutson Matty Hutson: Don't Hold Back. Matty Hutson](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/matty_hutson.jpg)
![Larry Owens Live. Larry Owens Larry Owens Live. Larry Owens](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/larry_owens.jpg)
![Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good. Gillian Cosgriff Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good. Gillian Cosgriff](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/gillian_cosgriff.jpg)
![Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers. Stuart Goldsmith Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers. Stuart Goldsmith](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/stuart_goldsmith.jpg)
![Sam Lake: Aspiring DILF. Sam Lake Sam Lake: Aspiring DILF. Sam Lake](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/sam_lake.jpg)
![Don Biswas - The Revolution Will Be Disorganised. Don Biswas Don Biswas - The Revolution Will Be Disorganised. Don Biswas](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/don_biswas.jpg)
![Jack Docherty in David Bowie and Me: Parallel Lives. Jack Docherty Jack Docherty in David Bowie and Me: Parallel Lives. Jack Docherty](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/jack_docherty.jpg)
![Amy Matthews: I Feel Like I'm Made of Spiders. Amy Matthews Amy Matthews: I Feel Like I'm Made of Spiders. Amy Matthews](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/amy_matthews.jpg)
![Elliot Steel: Love and Hate Speech. Elliot Steel Elliot Steel: Love and Hate Speech. Elliot Steel](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/elliot_steel.jpg)
![Tom Ballard: It is I. Tom Ballard Tom Ballard: It is I. Tom Ballard](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/tom_ballard.jpg)
![Maggie Crane: Side by Side. Maggie Crane Maggie Crane: Side by Side. Maggie Crane](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/maggie_crane.jpg)
![Flat and the Curves: Divadom. Image shows left to right: Arabella Rodrigo, Katy Baker, Charlotte Brooke, Issy Wroe Wright, Flat & The Curves Flat and the Curves: Divadom. Image shows left to right: Arabella Rodrigo, Katy Baker, Charlotte Brooke, Issy Wroe Wright, Flat & The Curves](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/flat_the_curves.jpg)
![Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head. Olaf Falafel Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head. Olaf Falafel](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/olaf_falafel.jpg)
![Paul Sinha: Pauly Bengali. Paul Sinha Paul Sinha: Pauly Bengali. Paul Sinha](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/paul_sinha.jpg)
![Shark Ate My Penis: A History of Boys Like Me. Laser Webber Shark Ate My Penis: A History of Boys Like Me. Laser Webber](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/fringe/2023/250x250/laser_the_boy.jpg)
Note that our analysis is limited to productions listed in the comedy section of the Fringe programmes. Of the comic performances in other sections - such as theatre - play England & Son starring Mark Thomas picked up the best reviews.
As in previous years, our methodology does not add weighting based on perceived value to different publications. Relatedly, better-known acts will always attract a greater number of critics in the first place, thus enjoy an inbuilt advantage in racking up the ratings. A number of less prominent productions will doubtless have been worthy of inclusion in the list but omitted as a result: for example, Ed: The New, Totally Unofficial, Ginger-Inclusive Parody Sketch Show would likely have featured in the top 10 it if had gained another review.
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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