Josh Pugh's Fringe cringe, binge and whinge

Josh Pugh recalls his most embarrassing Edinburgh experience; what he can't get enough of at the festival; and the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously.

Fringe cringe

Genuinely what I’m most embarrassed about is how much I cared the first few years, read every review, mine, other comedian’s, Trip Advisor reviews of restaurants... totally pathetic.

The last time I went I was much more chilled and treated the biggest arts festival in the world like a month-long stag do and nearly bankrupted my whole family, this year I’ll be somewhere in the middle of these extremes.

Fringe binge

I enjoy being in the flat, usually an Airbnb and opening all the post sent to the address. Gives you a real insight into the owner, unpaid mobile phone bill, invoices from Avon, what a character?!

But genuinely I like how the city looks, very pretty. You’ll see the nicest building you’ve ever seen in your life and it’ll just be a branch of Santander.

Fringe  whinge

My biggest whinge would have to be people visiting me. I can’t say no and usually spend the month with some distant relative sleeping on my floor after a day of me showing them round the city.

My family came in 2017, didn’t go into one show despite my brilliant recommendations. They spent the whole trip watching street performers and walking off before the bucket speech.

• Josh Pugh, Chips and Beans - Edinburgh Fringe 2022 at Chortle.co.uk">Josh Pugh: Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh, Chips and Beans is on at Monkey Barrel 4 at 2.10pm throughout the festival

Published: 16 Aug 2022