By Edinburgh Fringe double act Burger And A Pint

James Trickey and Ted Milligan – performing at the Edinburgh Fringe as the sketch duo Burger And A Pint – have come together to try and explain why men sometimes find it easier to communicate their thoughts and feelings through humour. As they have no real education on the topic, they have invited men’s mental health expert Mr. Custard Pie to impart knowledge where appropriate.

James: I have often come back from a get-together with my male friends, and when by my partner asks how all of them are doing, I have to answer with ‘I assume they’re all good’. If I really rack my brain to try to remember the conversation, the only things I can recall are very dumb jokes and so it begs the question, do most men prefer to communicate through humour?

Ted: Not me, I usually communicate through WhatsApp.

James: I think it’s also a pretty good way to establish if you’re going to get on with someone else.

Ted: Sense of humour is so intrinsic to someone’s personality, so testing the waters with a joke that you find funny can often be an immediate icebreaker/tester to see whether or not the two of you will get on.

James: Which is why it’s so incredible that we’re friends considering I thought you made an immensely unfunny first impression.

Ted: It’s true. James hated me but then couldn’t make any other friends.

James: I don’t think it’s an uncommon phenomenon to present bad news to a group of male friends, and be met with surface level sympathy, followed immediately by the most jokes you’ve ever heard in your life. 

Ted: When my girlfriend broke up with me this year, a mate immediately texted: ‘Still at least you’ve always got beer.’ It cheered me right up.

James: And you do always have beer! Sometimes even at our morning writing sessions.

Mr. Custard Pie: I’ve found that men are often not equipped with the tools to deal with highly emotional situations. It’s likely a combination of societal pressure and a lack of teaching but a lot of men struggle with presenting emotions in a healthy way. 

Ted: What the hell, are you a talking custard pie?

Mr CP: It could also be as a result of not having enough male role models who have the necessary emotional intelligence to tackle a situation, without just Superman punching their way through the problem. 

James: I would never Superman punch, last time I punched one of those boxing machines I broke my wrist. Besides, Batman is better than Superman. 

Mr. CP: So much comedy is self-deprecating, and enables men to reveal their deepest worries or insecurities with the fallback that they were joking the whole time. But making the joke in the first place opens the door for someone else to initiate the conversation that they might’ve been eager to have. It’s a lot easier to say: ‘If England don’t win the World Cup, I reckon I’ll end it’ in a group chat than to actually say: ‘Hi mate, I feel like all my happiness is out of my control, do you have some time to talk about it?’

Ted: Why are we listening to this talking pie?  

Mr CP: Often men are told that if you go through a hard time, it’s character-building. Going through and enduring hardship is essential in ensuring that you are a well rounded person, so it would be crazy to complain about something that was ultimately making you a better person, right? So the only room to cope is to relieve that tension with humour. It’s a lot easier to cope with a situation if you force yourself to find the light in it. 

James: What about if the situation is that you’re really hungry? Surely the best way to cope is to eat something?

Mr CP: Humour is also a pretty good defence mechanism. Often utilised to mask the cracks of confusion or discouragement someone might be feeling at any one time. Laughter is a very cheap and universal form of medicine. It can be the easiest route to a good time. 

James: I reckon the easiest way to have a good time is just hanging out with your mates. We love just sitting around naming footballers don’t we Ted?

Ted: Nicolas Anelka, for instance.

James: Great shout.

Mr CP: But when the time comes to say something sincere or heartfelt, it’s really easy to resort to putting on a silly voice because the vulnerability required to express love or fear with your own voice can feel too exposing.

Ted: Can we stop talking to this thing now, it’s making me uncomfortable.

James: Yeah. I don’t know about you but I’m in the mood for dessert now, do you want to go to Creams?

Ted: Sure.

Mr CP: Can I come?

James and Ted: No.

• Burger and a Pint: Treats for the Soul is on at Pleasance Courtyard at 16:15 during the Edinburgh Fringe

 

Published: 13 Aug 2026