Review of the pun-slinging comic on tour

Mark Simmons lives up to the wordplay behind his Jest To Impress title by taking to the stage in formal black tie – which turns out to be a set-up for a joke it takes the full hour to tell. That’s a long time for a one-liner.

But almost everything Simmons does is in the service of a punchline. He lives for the joke to the extent that almost the only aspect of himself he reveals on stage is how he writes his comedy. A lot of gags involve his girlfriend, and he only belatedly confesses that he’s actually single, the slightest of glances into reality.

In the service of gag-writing geekiness he explains how the slightest variation in pacing, word choice or intonation can elevate a joke, lest anyone underestimate the craftsmanship that goes into an exquisite pun. His are so clearly the result of intricate engineering and attention to detail, with gags that are almost impossible to unpick until he gets to the end.

The peek behind the curtain also supplies context which means the audience easily forgive him roadtesting gags here, especially as by this point they only need a finishing touch, they’re not raw works in progress. At the other end of his jokes’ lives, he shares his favourites from almost a dozen Edinburgh shows over the years, many of which have made ‘Joke Of The Fringe’ lists.

Simmons also explicitly points out the ‘breaking devices’ he uses - those little bits of business that punctuate what would otherwise be volley of one-liners, lest they become monotonous or overwhelming, however good the payoffs. And while he’s careful not to pummel the crowd with punchlines, you’ll not go wanting, as it’s still a densely packed show.

He’s visibly proud of himself when he serves up wordplay that lands well, part of his genial demeanour that he uses to bind us all to the idea that we’re all here for jokes-for-jokes’-sake nonsense. There are pleasing interactions, too, with punters whose alarms go off mid-show, or who crunch on the crisps at an inopportune moment.

His analysis of his craft further extends to telling us how he divides his work into quickies or ‘thinkers’, which require a beat for the penny to drop, satisfyingly. Then there are those that are a bit blue – although unlike music hall legend Max Miller, Simmons’ cheekier gags are in a black book, not a blue one. They’re told in the manner of a slightly mischievous schoolboy, the smut almost incidental to the mechanics of the language.

You could actually imagine the gag that seems harshest on paper coming from the mouth of Frankie Boyle, where the effect would be very different from the naughtiness Simmons conveys. If any of the jokes have victims – and they rarely do – it’s almost always the comic himself and his unfiltered idiocy

We know he’s got a wealth gags in his quiver from the videos he so often posts online – and from the quickfire section delivering a swift repost for every hobby proffered by the front row and beyond.

Another bit of interaction reveals a lot of audience members are in their 50s and above, and perhaps an older demographic finds Simmons’ non-confrontational manner and delight in frivolity over substance appealing. Certainly don’t come here seeking meaning or polemic – but if the ‘joke-joke’ genre appeals, Simmons has it nailed.

Support act Danny Ward, Simmons’ co-host on his Jokes podcast –was, however, a little disappointing, especially on the back of a strong solo show unveiled at last year's Fringe. He talked around observations without focusing sharply enough on the funny. Luckily his old mate had punchlines to spare after the interval.

• Jest To Impress is on tour until November. Mark ​Simmons tour dates

Review date: 6 Feb 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Cambridge Junction