At Chortle Fast Fringe 2010

Edinburgh preview

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Children will recognise him as Archie The Inventor in Balamory, but Miles Jupp is also an award-winning stand-up.

He started his career with victories in two new act competitions in 2001 - Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny and the Leicester Festival of The Year award. Two years later he was nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award for his show Gentlemen Prefer Brogues.

On TV his upper-class persona landed him regluar apperances on BBC Scotland's Live Floor Show and has appeared on Paramount's The World Stands Up and Channel 4's You Must Be Joking, among others.

He is also a member of the sketch team The Lost and Lonely Rebels.

Miles Jupp: Telling It Like It Might Be - Fringe 2009
Live Review

Having long distanced himself from the laird of the manor character with which he established his name, the personable yet fuming Miles Jupp has shifted into someone you’d swear was an upper middle-class parody if he didn’t wear it so well.

A village in Hampshire certainly bought into the urbane appearance and accent, booking him for their hall without realising that his swearing to racism ratio might differ from theirs. As he points out, his comedy is not for these people, it’s about them.

Acutely aware of how others perceive him, he gets good mileage out of accepting the charges but not the crime. He’s a snob, but a left-wing one whose principles depend on him not having to put them into practice. Polite ranting is Jupp’s forte, though unfortunately, for all his erudition and clever, undercutting turns of phrase, it’s also something of a comfort zone.

Raising the green custard attack on Peter Mandelson in protest over Heathrow’s third runway, he builds a compelling image of the security services preparing for any potential food-based assault on dignitaries. Although it’s an amusing segment, it feels like too much exposition and scene-setting for too few laughs. He’s far more concisely funny on his dignified, less than panicked reaction to the credit crunch and the apocalyptic final day of Woolworth – until, that is, his diatribes against Britain’s service industry again start to feel like he’s indulging a character.

The extended saga of him punching his laptop into submission has a more truthful ring of frustration, his banal exchanges with the IT repair man skilfully stretched out into a reluctant battle of wills, with the less-than-revelatory disclosure that some people keep sex pictures of themselves on their computers the setup for a lovely line about treating copulation like a marathon.

After a few observations on his wife’s decision to have a home birth and his own infancy setting the pattern for his impeccable bourgeoisie credentials, he finishes with the lengthy account of their new year’s coach trip to Amsterdam. Predictably trying, Jupp ladles indignity after indignity upon the story, right up to and including the point where he needs to defend his pregnant wife’s honour. Exceptionally well sustained, both in the writing and the performance, it ensures this hour boasts a more triumphant conclusion than his misguided display of bravado.

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Was at the Empire comedy club on January 27th and had an amazing time thanks to this man. He was able to maintain his persona throughout the show while still being able to relate to the audience and get laughs. A real comedy treat.

Peter D, January 2009

Jan 31st, Haywards Heath. Not his finest hour. Unsettled by a quiet crowd, tended to gabble his way through the first half which made it worse because no-one had time to work through what he'd said. Better second half, at least managed to get one half of the room laughing. Overall a 40W bulb to Dan Atkinson and Rob Deerings comedy searchlights. Disappointing

Adrian Breeds, February 2008

I saw him at the Arts Theatre on Monday. I found him absolutely delightful, and wish to marry him.

Anna Dancer, July 2007

Glad I've finally seen him. He's brilliant.

Paul Sinha, February 2007

Best of the night at the Kings Head – cheers for a cracking night

laurence hewitt, February 2007

An excellent headline performance, non-stop laughter, a brilliantly crafted set.

Ian Smith, September 2006

Saw him in Edinburgh last year doing the warm up and he was the best bit. Excellent and original.

Wendy, June 2006

Excellent on BBC's Spanking New on 7.

Steffan, April 2004

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