Comedians share their Fringe stories

‘I was holding up a sign asking people to be quiet as they exited one show, so as not to disturb another. A man stopped and started reading the sign very intently. It was Rowan Atkinson. He gave me a short, sincere nod, and wandered away. ‘
Bethany Lewis, Underbelly Cowgate, 22:50

Many comics have met Dave Benson Phillips (of Get Your Own Back! fame) - although few know that he attempted to improvise a stand-up set at Set List one night. Struggling, he pulled out a bucket of ‘gunge; and then explained how he'd tried his hardest to make it look like semen. Host Kai Humphries then called me on stage and Dave Benson Philips poured fake ejaculate on me. Thus realising a childhood dream and destroying one simultaneously.
Liam Withnail: The Immigration Game, Heroes @ Monkey Barrel, 17:20

The guy who's spare room I shared with a fellow comic one year, he asked where I'd be living after the Fringe, I had a final weekend hangover and couldn't bear to get on a train and find a place to live in London, so I just stayed another night. It turned into almost two years. The cheap rent compared to London allowed me to become a full time stand-up comic. We're still good mates.
Marcus Ryan: ¿Hablas Inglés?, Free Sisters, 17:00

Bob Monkhouse. He held the door of a cab open for me outside the Pleasance. It was love at first sight. On my part anyway.
Ingrid Oliver: Speech!, Pleasance Courtyard, 16:30

I met a man walking across Bruntsfield Links who asked if I'd like a Twix, and then said he'd give me one if I promised to give my girlfriend a piggyback. He handed over the Twix and then walked away, completely unconcerned as to whether the piggyback did or did not happen. I'm still unclear what benefit he derived from this exchange.
Robert Eyers, Two Dunnit, theSpace @ Surgeons Hall,11:50

Our buddy Mark Evans who works the bars at Assembly. We lived with him last year in a flat full of comedians and he was hands down the funniest person in the house. The bars make the festivals run - they work long, hard shifts and have to deal with everyone so be nice to the bar staff.
Zach & Viggo: Dream Team, Underbelly Cowgate, 21:30

Eddie Izzard asked if he could sit at my table in the Pleasance Courtyard during Fringe 2014. I tried to carry on as normal, but I had tears in my eyes for the next twenty minutes.
Elissa Churchill, Newsrevue, Pleasance Courtyard, 18:30

There was a man who me and Rob Beckett used to see every day while flyering who would talk gibberish at us and we would have to pretend we understood. We would sometimes say something indecipherable back to him and he would nod and laugh.
Ian Smith: Snowflake, Underbelly Med Quad, 17:15

My wife, narrowly beating Marsha Hunt, who was one of Jimi Hendrix's backing singers and took me and some pals under her wing, after she found out Chas Chandler (who discovered Jimi) went to the school in Newcastle that my Mum taught at.
Ben Van der Velde: Sidekick, Espionage, 20:45

Alex Petty [of the Laughing Horse Free Festival], he gave me everything; a room over my head, a bucket, a better start for me and my unborn children, this interview, discounted food at Laughing Horse venues. I owe that man.
Zahra Barri: Talk Like An Egyptian, Bar 50, 21:45

My partner – the comedian Patrick Monahan – and I first met in Edinburgh so I'd have to say him!
Lily Lovett Lovett Lovett, I'm Lovin' It Like That, Espionage, 20:00

A stranger bought me an ice cream once. No one has topped that.
Athena Kugblenu: KMT, Underbelly Med Quad, 17:50

I assume this is supposed to include famous names, but Lorna Newman, my friend, is the best person I met in Edinburgh, as she inspired me to do all the things I'm doing now. If this makes it online...this is your bit, Lorna!
John Porter: Five Years Time, The Counting House, 11:00

Published: 3 Aug 2017