August is fast approaching which means it’s time to scour the Edinbugh Festival Fringe programme for the best shows to see.
The physical programme was launched earlier this month, with 3,352 show across 265 venues, and some are already selling out.
It can be a fairly daunting prospect to narrow those down when organising your Fringe.
It’s always nice to take a chance on something, hoping to be the first to see a hot new act - but sometimes it’s just nice to see somebody familiar from television.
Since 2004 the BBC’s Live at the Apollo has been one of the most popular small screen showcases for standup comedians - acting as a rite of passage for those on their way to fame and fortune.
Those appearing on early episodes included the likes of Jo Brand, Lee Mack, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Russell Howard, Sean Lock and Dara Ó Briain.
And, while it’s not watched by as many people as in its heyday - when everybody in Britain seemed to know Rhod Gilbert’s ‘lost luggage’ routine - it’s still seen to be one of the most prestigious TV bookings for both up-and-coming and established comics.
Here are 31 who have made the grade and are appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. You can buy tickets for all the shows here.
13. Jamali Maddix: Aston
"Critically acclaimed comedian Jamali Maddix is back at the Fringe with a brand-new show: Aston. Expect Jamali's trademark brutally honest and unflinching perspectives on the world at large." Monkey Barrel, August 13-24. | Contributed
14. Janine Harouni: This Is What You Waited For
"The two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with a new hour on family, parenting and marriage." Monkey Barrel, August 11-24. | Contributed
15. Chloe Petts: Big Naturals
"Petts returns to the Fringe and she's delving where she's never delved before: this is a show about sex. The problem is that she blushes every time she says that word." Pleasance Courtyard, July 30-August 24. | Contributed
16. Geoff Norcott: Basic Bloke 2 – There's No Bloke Without Fire
"This will be Geoff's first UK tour under a Labour government, so he's got plenty to get off his chest. Not least because there's nothing quite so British as being promised a brave new dawn then realising it's as crap." Underbelly, August 11-24. | Contributed