On Gordon Brown's Bigotgate

At Chortle's Fast Fringe

More Brendon Burns videos

Australian comic Brendon Burns has been performing comedy since the early Nineties and is known for his aggressive stage presence and controversial material.

He briefly hosted the 11 O'Clock Show and even more briefly the ITV2 spin-off show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here Now!, walking off after just three shows.

However it is live – and especially in his solo shows – where he has forged a reputation, with six live CDs to his name. He has also performed at Montreal and South African comedy festivals

He first appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1996, hosting The Comedy Zone showcase of new acts, and performing in his debut solo show 6pm Time To Get Up For Work. He has returned to the Fringe every year since, except for 1999, and in 2007 won its top prize, the if.comedy award

A trilogy, Burnsy versus Brendon, which ran at Edinburgh in 2004, 2005 and 2006, examined his own life – culminating in his mental breakdown and drinks and drugs rehabilitation at the Priory.

The Wrestling
Live Review

Only in Edinburgh.

Max Olesker, of sketch duo Max and Ivan, decided he wanted to stage a real night of wrestling, in which genuine hardmen, built like brick shithouses, would share the ring with comedians, built like Wendy houses. And, in his words, ‘Somehow this has been allowed to happen.’

It was an audacious plan with every possibility of being a chaotic disaster – both metaphorically and physically – with 15 comedy acts joining wrestlers with names like Dan ‘The Hammer’ Head and Johnny Moss ‘245lbs of invincible muscle’, despite having little time to prepare. Never has the Fringe’s ‘let’s do this thing’ spirit been so sorely tested – and come up so triumphantly.

Most of the comics were, sensibly, used as managers, valets, ring announcers and the like in this battle of good versus evil – but that didn’t mean they escaped being in harm’s way.

On the side of the good, led by Bible-bashing Russell Kane, we had Mark Watson, Patrick Monahan dressed like Freddie Mercury, Abandoman rapping the entrance for wrestler Mark Haskins and Colin Hoult as The Mighty Thwor, God Of Thunder – or was it just a nutter from Leeds?

On the side of evil, led by Adam Riches, was Humphrey Ker, a Nazi bruiser nicknamed the Vinyl Solution; Tom ‘Explosenthal’ Rosenthal, dressed as a gimp; Jessica Ransom as a brilliantly deranged Russian mother, and a rather underused Rich Fulcher, boasting he had ‘more money than Jesus’s cock’.

Nick Helm was the perfect choice as the rasping, brusque MC; Matthew Crosby the roving reporter, bringing witty pre-match excitement from the lengthy queues outside as well as in the room itself; and Frisky & Mannish providing first-rate halftime entertainment, with a stirring version of Eye Of The Tiger given their own genre-bending twist.

Key to getting the atmosphere going were Andrew Maxwell and Brendon Burns commentating ringside on the side of good and evil respectively. If there’s a rabble to be roused, you couldn’t do much better than these two. Being a comedy crowd, the instinct was to go with the heels, but Maxwell, spouting delightfully pious aphorisms, rallied the sold-out 770-strong crowd with the unlikely chant: ‘Fair play and decency!’ and we swung on to the righteous path.

To a person, the mob brought into the idea; and for a shade under two hours yelled their support, booed the bad guys and aaa-hed every bone-crunching move. It’s impossible to describe the pumped-up atmosphere, but there’s not been a febrile, feral blood lust like this since the old Late And Live – but this time the threat of death was less metaphorical.

The wrestlers didn’t hold back, and the comics threw themselves into it as much as their puny frames would let them. The sight of Rosenthal in tight all-over rubber, gnawing away like a gerbil at his opponent is one that will haunt my dreams for weeks.

Attention-whore Monahan, who couldn’t bear not being the centre of attention, seemed to genuinely annoy one of the men-mountain, who started throwing chairs with apparently real disregard for audience safety, and chased the Geordie comic through the crowd. If the comedy doesn’t work out, Monahan will always have a career as a rodeo clown waiting for him. And his grandstanding antics thoroughly earned him that piledriver. Oh yes, this shit got very real.

Star of the show, though, was Max himself. He was once the youngest professional wrestler in the UK, and although now retired, he proved he’s still got the skills, taking a good old beating, only to make a remarkable comeback in a later bout with a jaw-dropping display of acrobatic talent. He won the day for the side of good (what are the odds?) but not without sacrifice. He ended up in A&E with what’s thought to be a fractured ankle.

But it wasn’t just wrestling, the comedy element lived up to the anticipation, too. With so many competitive, quick-witted performers in the room, the banter sparkled, with ad-libbed hilarious lines being thrown about like… well, like a wimpy comedian in a wrestling ring.

The result was a unforgettable night of guffaws, drama and a genuine fear for the safety of others. Edinburgh has not seen its like before – and when you consider what has happened in this city over the years, that’s quite an achievement. A truly awesome event.

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Once you get passed the initial shock you know that here is a guy who thinks, feels, and on some level, cares. His DVD is being passed around my family. They have never seen anything like it as they only ever watch Peter Kay or Lee Evans. When it has finished they want to show somebody else. Inspiring stuff.

Keith, July 2009

Saw him at Latitude on Sunday... I almost wet myself! The Michael Barrymore rant will live with me for ever! Mate, you are a total hero!

Mark, Norwich, July 2009

Saw Brendon the other night at the MICF and it's great to have him back. I think I recall last time he was drinking and smoking on stage and maybe even a bit more subdued than he was the other night. Still waiting to read the review from that gig as both the reviewer and his mother were there on the same night which must have had some impact on the show, perhaps made it better? I've convinced all my mates to go next week. Keep coming back to Melbourne despite your hatred for us Melbournians.

Dean, April 2009

Saw Brendon last year and he was fantastic, coped with persistent heckling extremely well. Really looking forward to seeing him this year at the Altitude Festival.

Y, February 2009

Saw Brendon last night at the Frog & Bucket during the Manchester Comedy festival, the intensity and routine was fantastic. One of the best nights I have had in the past few years, keep out of the front row as you are likely to get splashed with spit and get picked on during one of his rants. His routine on our Liverpool neighbours last night was the best routine. A superb comic, great timing, and hopefully will never go mainstream onto TV and tone down his act.

Simon Barlow, October 2008

I went in to the Assembly Rooms a might fearful, yet I came out with love for another man, a damn funny and warmer than I expected man to boot, well done Brendon!

Darren Smith, Liverpool, August 2008

I saw Brendan last (13/8/8) night for the first time as he compered at the Fringe. He was brilliant. I particularly enjoyed seeing others sit stoney faced as he became more and more deviant and offensive. His take on Arnie was classic.

Andy, August 2008

Yes its loud, and inevitably some of his rants will have you squirming uncomfortably, but there's a hell of a lot of giggling too. Particularly identified with Brendan's observations about the 'algebraic' nature of some relationships.(can't complain - got me a decent washing machine!). Also his observations about men that 'give up the fight'. So very true.

Jo Phelan, July 2008

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