Comic announces Gilded Balloon shows following his cancer diagnosis

Rhod Gilbert is to make his first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2019.

The comic will perform at the Gilded Balloon this August with a short run of work-in-progress shows.

It will follow his planned return to the stage in May, following his stage four cancer diagnosis last summer.

Speaking to The Guardian last month, Gilbert said: ‘I don't know how much to talk about the cancer. I haven't really worked out what to say.

‘I'm really aware of mental health now and I’m checking in with myself every day. I feel fine, weirdly. I’m happy, optimistic and hopeful that next year it'll all come good. The cancer is on my mind 24/7, but, when I'm well enough to write, I'm jotting down a few things. And there is humour in there, definitely.’

And he added: ‘I'm feeling good and feel like I'm recovering day-by-day.’

Gilbert’s stage return has been announced as part of the first batch of shows at the Gilded Balloon unveiled today.

They also include the return of Scottish favourite Gary: Tank Commander  – aka Greg McHugh –  as well as Grace Campbell’s A Show About More Me(n).

South African satirist Schalk Bezuidenhout  will also be returning  while rising stars Jack Skipper, Pravanya Pillay and Joshua Bethania will appear in the line-up show Best of So You Think You’re Funny? And The 69-Sketch Show from sketch group Biscuit Barrel promises 69 sketches in an hour.

The news comes a month after the Pleasance became the first venue to put tickets on sale for the 2023 Fringe, with the return of medic-turned-comedian-turned-bestselling-author Adam Kay.

The Pleasance also announced some new shows today: Fringe stalwarts The Showstoppers, Newsrevue, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare and Paul Merton's Impro Chums plus the  second show from Chloe Petts and Tony! the Tony Blair rock opera created by Harry Hill and musical collaborator Steve Brown.

In a statement, Gilded Balloon directors Karen and Katy Koren said: ‘We’re incredibly proud to present the first shows of our 2023 programme with some tremendous international and local artists and companies. We continue to provide a supportive platform for the very best artistic and creative talent at the best arts festival in the world.’

The shows will go on sale from 12pm tomorrow  at tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk.

Published: 14 Feb 2023