Dominic Holland has performed five solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival; his first, in 1993, winning him the Perrier best newcomer award. He was nominated for the main prize three years later.

In 2000 he landed his own Radio 4 show, The Small World of Dominic Holland, which he followed up wth Holland Shorts in 2006.

On TV, he played a writer in both series of BBC3's Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive - and has been a genuine writer for Harry Enfield, Lenny Henry and Clive Anderson. His first novel, Only In America, was published in 2002, and his follow-up, The Ripple Effect, the following year.

He also regularly turns up as a panellist on such shows as Five's The Wright Stuff, Have I Got News For You, The Des O'Connor Show and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Dominic Holland at Latitude 2010
Live Review

We don’t see much of veteran stand-up Dominic Holland on the circuit any more. Perhaps he’s too busy writing films that, by his own admission, probably won’t get made, or perhaps because his son Tom is playing Billy Elliot in the West End, the Holland family hardly need the extra cash.

At this Latitude appearance, ahead of a half-run at the Edinburgh Fringe next month, he showed some of the distinctive flair that made him one of Britain’s most astute observational acts… as well as some signs that he’s a little gig-rusty.

Being a 43-year-old father of four, you can perhaps forgive him for not wanting to hit the local Giggle Garage every night of the week. But his family has given some of his best routines, even amid a crowded field of ‘hapless dad’ chunks as the once-young vanguard of comedians advance into middle age.

Holland’s segment about getting his lads changed in a cramped swimming pool cubicle has the sort of first-hand frustration that can’t be faked, while his depictions of picking out dog shit from a youngster’s trainers invokes tears of laughter and recognition.

Not all of the set is this assured. There’s well-worn jokes about chavs wearing tracksuits but hardly looking sporting, while sometimes he overplays the grumpy old man card, muttering about new-fangled phones as if he’d only ever seen them with dials on until now.

But even then he eventually winkles out the laughs, even if occasionally he has to address the fact a few of the punchlines en route don’t quite hit the mark.

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He's the comedy equivalent of the embarassing jumper given to you at Xmas by your mum. Safe and unadventurous.

Riera, March 2010

Dominic was absolutely brilliant at this year's Edinburgh festival. Razor sharp observational humour from a genuine craftsman. Easily our favourite comedy act out of 6 we've seen so far. Keep up the brilliant work Dom.

John Allison, August 2006

I listen to him on radio quite frequently. I think he's funny and I understand his jokes, despite being nearly 70 and not a thirty something - whatever that means. Easy humour with an incisive edge.

Bill Halsall, May 2006

A genuinely funny guy. Best of luck to him

Derek Shakespeare, November 2005

Just saw him deliver some perfectly written and cared-for lines to an audience that were very hard to please tonight. Far too lazy to dismiss Dominic as safe as it takes guts to believe in a well written gag that may burn slowly rather than pander to a 'drugs and wet patch' audience. Some of his lines tonight were as good as I have heard all year.

Alaric Dynevor, October 2005

Brilliant. Funniest act that I've seen for years.

John Clarek, October 2005

Safe comedy with a capital 'S' and 'C'.

Nelson, November 2004

He just gets better and better.

Nicola Wren, October 2004

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