Darren Walsh on the best and the worst of the Fringe

Darren Walsh starts his Edinburgh Fringe run tomorrow, with his wordplay-heavy show 3rd Rock From The Pun running at 1.45pm daily at Bar 50. Here he shares what he can't get enough of at the festival, his most embarrassing Edinburgh experience and the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously. And you may spot a pun or two here…

Edinburgh binge

This is going to come as a surprise to most people, but I love flyering. Sometimes more than being on stage. I ask people for a subject to do a joke on before I hand them a flyer, if they laugh, they're invited to my gig. This tradition dates back to 2011, but I only recently started capturing these interactions on camera. I mean, it's pretty shit when it's raining, but there is still a joke to be had, right? 

Also, I REALLY love curry and Edinburgh has great Indian restaurants. You'll find me gorging myself in Mosque Kitchen most afternoons. I'm only there for two weeks this year, so I'm gonna make samosa fit. I remember seeing a comedian called Gareth Morinan in there once, he'd already eaten and was queuing up to get more naan. This is probably only funny to me.

The Meadows is such a relaxing place, I love to chill there, but not cycling with a deck chair (more on that).

Edinburgh cringes

I bumped into a comedian one year and said ‘sorry about that one star review you got’, to which they replied ‘what one star review?’.

Then there was that time on ITV News after winning the Joke of The Fringe. Caught in a gusty street, with a faulty earpiece, I stumbled through the live interview with ‘what? .. wassat? what?’  until they mercifully switched to ads.

In 2016 there was someone tweeting out fake 4-star reviews, I thought it was real. Blissfully unaware, I stuck the review on my poster. In the same year, I decided to cycle to The Meadows carrying a deckchair which went into my spokes and I fractured my arm and had to perform the rest of the fringe with bruised ribs.

Finally, I farted whilst waiting backstage at a compilation gig, I thought no one was there but from behind the clothing rail a voice said 'pardon you' oops.

Edinburgh whinges

Families of German tourists dresden raincoats hogging the entire pavement. It always seems to be when I'm late for a gig. 

Then there are those old acquaintances from work or uni who come to a show, don’t get it, and wind up the encounter with an awkward, ‘So, this is what you're up to then?’

Look, I know you’ve specifically asked me not to mention accommodation in Edinburgh, but I have to get this off my chest. One year we turned up at our flat to find a duffle bag full of laundry. I immediately contacted the agent with a photo saying it’s not ours, to which they replied just leave it there, don't worry. Fast forward a month. We get billed for ‘removal of duffle bag’. I won’t tell you the name of the agent, but it definitely doesn’t rhyme with ‘Mouthslide Proper Tea Management’.

Published: 14 Aug 2023