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At the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe

More Josh Widdicombe videos

Winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of The Year title in 2010 and finalist in So You Think You're Funny? 2008, a few months after he started stand-up.

Josh Widdicombe at Latitude 2010
Live Review

Outside of the mini new act competition Latitude holds, reigning Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year Josh Widdicombe was probably the least experienced stand-up to take to this intimidating stage this weekend.

And although he has some fine material, much of it from the point of view of an anally over-analytical chap uncomfortable with lad culture, he struggled to raise much of a titter from the thousand-plus audience, in contrast to his much more assured performance in front of 100 or so at Kent’s Lounge In The Park festival last weekend.

But his gags often deserved more than this muted response. Observations about such fresh topics as narrowboats and Madame Tussaud’s are both lovely and obtuse, while his inventive new routine about heightened senses was quirkily funny.

True, he occasionally pushes his premises too far: he might have been amused by spotting a sign in the Co-op offering legal advice, but his extrapolation stretches the idea too thin. Other routines are empirically impressive for the clever lines of thought that have gone into them, but don’t quite make that emotional connection to bring a neutral audience on-side.

But the aforementioned routines, plus witty takes on being dumped and (separately) burgled indicate a promising future once he can build an audience empathy with large crowds such as this to match the craftsmanship of his best material.

Love Josh, just saw this professional young man do a show. He'll go far!

Dawn, February 2012

Bloody brilliant writer. Excellent observational humour!

Don Biswas, May 2011

I think Josh deserved to win the FHM title but his 5 minute set was identical to the one that won his heat. Probably needs more time on the circuit to fully round out his act. Liam was excellent in the heats but didn't quite hit the spot in the final. Definitely worth checking out. I didn't get Nathan at all, really quite dull.

Chopper, December 2010

I thought he was utter garbage. Very weak material. Best thing about his set was how short it was.

James, September 2010

Saw him last night - very mixed bag. Laugh out loud at some points, has the makings of being top class,some excellent surreal gags: the Paddington stuff was very funny. A lot of potential, I look forward to seeing him in a year or so when he's refined the act!

Paddy, February 2009

An excellent new comedian. Definitely one to watch.

Martin Hill, September 2008