Concluding our short series

We asked some comedians to tell us what was the best and worst show they've ever seen at the Edinburgh Fringe. Rob Auton answered both…

Best fringe show

In 2011, I saw a new comic do a ten-minute set at an opening of the fringe mixed bill night. Their set was absolutely incredible. Their enthusiasm was infectious and they had everyone in the palm of their hand. People were absolutely lapping it up.  I thought ‘wow this person is going to have an incredible festival, a star in the making’. 

Worst fringe show

In 2011, I saw the same person do exactly the same set at a closing of the Fringe mixed bill night. Their set was the toughest thing I’d seen all month. I couldn’t believe the difference. Same material but delivered with no enthusiasm, no excitement, no energy. The material didn’t land at all.

I couldn’t believe that exactly the same words could be delivered and received in such a different way. That demonstrated to me that no matter how good your material is, if you look like you don’t believe in it or you look like you want to be somewhere else, nobody else is going to believe in it either.

It stuck with me and now when I see someone doing an amazing set I think; 'Yeah I know what that set could look like after a month in Edinburgh.'

Rob Auton: CAN: The Story of a Man called CAN is on at Assembly Roxy at 1.25pm during the Edinburgh Fringe 

Published: 4 Aug 2025