Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

It’s so obvious, he might as well talk about it. Finlay Christie leans into his poshness more than ever in Champagne Casanova, asserting straight out of the traps: ‘I have rich parents – which means even if I’m not good at stand-up, I’ll keep doing it.’

Luckily, he is pretty good at comedy – especially on the topic of class – so this is not (just) the indulgence of privilege. From his background, he exaggerates an assholery streak, such as making jibes at the expense of state-school kids, with enough ironic self-awareness to keep it funny.

A key trait associated with the upper-middle class is emotional repression, and Christie admits he is scared of people finding out who he really is, leading to intimacy issues. Surely that’s why he finds it easier to play up to the posh stereotypes than delving too deeply into his psyche on stage.

The central story here does involve his bubble of privilege being popped when he got mugged in New Orleans. ‘Nothing bad had ever happened to me before,’ he says. But even so, the crime was not violent, more of a con, and the comedian was more embarrassed by his naivety – and how easily flattered his male ego was – than suffering any lasting damage. The anecdote is well-told, even if there are just a few too many dick jokes.

Later, he flirts around potentially hot topics such as why incels are socialists, loving North Korean propaganda, how he’d embrace Islam or how it might be fun to get the British Empire back together again, but it’s all done with tongue playfully in cheek.

A few years after bursting on to the scene via social media, Christie is outgrowing his ‘voice of the youth’ shtick, and emerging into his ‘posh white bloke’ era – though it’s hardly a demographic underrepresented in comedy. A keen sense of his own absurdity will help the 27-year-old – though that’s a trait shared by the likes of Jack Whitehall and Ivo Graham, all secure in their status – as will his obvious gag-writing chops.

He risks running out of momentum at the end of this show, culminating in a pat payoff about not linking your self-worth to other people – which might be easier advice to take, had it not come from someone whose actual worth might feature on a newspaper rich list. But with strong jokes, roguish audience badinage and the easy confidence of his class, Christie is a dependable bet.

Review date: 28 Aug 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Monkey Barrel Comedy Club