Freya Mallard shares her comedy favourites

Comedian Freya Mallard - who’s at the Edinburgh Fringe with her show The Bounce Back – shares her Perfect Playlist of comedy favourites.

The Princess Bride

I’d be bereft without this movie. It's my childhood in a nutshell. To this day I still  watch it every time I’m sick and my family quote every line at each other profusely. I use this movie as a barometer with which to judge people's taste.

I admire anyone that can look past its gentle nature and see it for the comedy giant it truly is. I sincerely hope Mandy Patinkin outlives me, I’m simply too attached. 

Anything with Lucy Punch in it.

Women like Lucy Punch are a shining beacon of hope to us girls with ‘characterful faces’. Her penchant for playing ‘ugly stepsisters’ and women who are ‘a bit much’ give the rest of us permission to seek out comedic roles where you can fully immerse yourself in contributing as many laughs as possible rather than your best posed angle. 

Thank you Lucy Punch; thank you, Julia Davis' thank you, Olivia Colman.

Chris Fleming’s Show Pig 

A stand-up hour so original it feels almost illegal that’s it’s available in full on YouTube but there it is in all its glory. I show this special to people at house parties, projected onto TVs (to properly do it justice) to other stand-ups and to my friends who barely engage with comedy outside of watching Friends reruns. 

Tom Lawrinson and Sam O’Leary sketches 

At the risk of committing the mortal British sin of being ‘a bit keen’ and complementing my friends.  I wouldn't want to live in a world where I wasn't getting these guys' uploads popping up in my feed. 

So ingeniously silly and impressively well put together with a touch of foreboding for good measure. They stretch short form content to its max potential which given its reputation as the lesser platform next to film and sitcom, never truly gets the credit it deserves.

But genuinely brightening people’s days in these short bursts is no small feat. 

@tomlawrinson When your mate doesn’t get the joke  Sketch with @Sam O'Leary go gove him a follow!  #comedy #sketch #funny #ukcomedy Tom Lawrinson">♬ original sound - Tom Lawrinson

Reality TV

When the format is at its peak, reality TV does what scripted shows wish they could write without being accused of being totally unbelievable.

I  am a major player and so when I give you my top recommendations now I suggest that you write them down with a good pen. 

Pineapple Dance Studios, Love Island Series 3, the Bros documentary  After the Screaming Stop, Married At First Sight Australia and Jury Duty are all titans of industry in my opinion. 

Summer Heights High 

My dad brought this full DVD series on a beautiful family trip to Cornwall and I made good use of the stunning weather by staying inside with the curtains drawn and binge-watching the entire thing, my feet kicking in the air and grinning in delight at the ridiculousness of Chris Lilley’s characters. Each one more mad than the last and yet seemingly all felt like a person we had definitely met in real life.

• Freya Mallard: The Bounce Back is on at  Pleasance Courtyard at 4.35pm

Published: 4 Aug 2024