Review of Scottish comic's latest solo show

Glaswegian Marc Jennings is a regular on Breaking The News, BBC Radio Scotland's equivalent to The News Quiz – and it's easy to see why, given he offers a reliably amusing take on current affairs without being too radical or tubthumping. 

His live show also draws upon relatively topical subject matter, which he was possibly forced to consider because of his appearances on the show. Hence discussion about the Tartan Army being warmly welcomed in Boston when they descended there for the World Cup, the rise of flag-shagging nationalism, Meta’s pervert glasses, the financial scandal involving Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband Peter Murrell, and the social awkwardness of recently departed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

That might not be what London audiences were expecting to hear about, but Jennings has a knack of telling people things they don’t want to know. His reminders of Scotland’s role in the British Empire – and its own failed colonial ambitions that led them into the 1707 Union in the first place – are surely unwelcome truths north of the border.

Yet he projects such a nice-guy image that no one, surely, can take umbrage. Whatever the topic his mocking is gentle and amiable – but funny. 

The show ends with a personal shaggy-dog story – delivered from the requisite stool to indicate the change of tone – about the confusion of an on-off relationship. The content, on the face of it, isn’t that special and certainly over-long, so it’s testament to his assured delivery that he can hold a room rapt as he wrestles with the consequences of a stand-up’s itinerant life.

Jennings is getting some traction online, from TikTok, Instagram and his Some Laugh podcast, earning him the sort of ‘don't I know you from somewhere?’ recognition that entails. 

It’s a profile that’s set to rise given how dependable – if not hugely distinctive – a comic he is. Though his acceptance that he may need to move to London to make that happen definitely speaks to a pet peeve that the circuit in his home nation is perennially overlooked by an anglocentric comedy industry. 

• Marc Jennings has a handful of Scottish dates of If & When between October and January. Marc ​Jennings tour dates.

Review date: 29 Sep 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: The Bill Murray