The Edinburgh Festival Fringe was one of the many artistic casualties of the global pandemic, meaning the streets of the Capital have remained free of the usual August hubbub since the last full edition was held back in 2019.
The return of the event, scheduled to take place from August 5-29, will be welcomed by all those who missed the annual cultural feast, as well as business owners who rely on the huge number of visitors that flock to the city.
Comedy fans are already scouring the programme for the next big thing set to emerge from the annual cultural feast, following the likes of Tim Minchin, Mel & Sue, The League of Gentlemen, Bo Burnham, Steve Coogan, Noel Fielding and Graham Norton, who all started their careers in tiny Edinburgh venues.
They were all at least nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award – formerly the Perrier Award – which will also be be back in 2022, three years after it was last presented.
And many previous winners of the prize have already announced they will be returning to the Capital with new shows this year.
So, if you want to see somebody who has already scaled the peak of Edinburgh Fringe comedy, here are the 12 tickets you should be booking on the Fringe website.
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5. Tim Vine: Breeeep!
King of the puns, Tim Vine won Best Newcomer way back in 1995 for 'The Tim Vine Fiasco'. A mere 27 years later he still probably offers more laughs per minute than any other comedian and will be bringing 'Breeeep!' to the Pleasance Courtyard for a full run each night at 6pm. Photo: Contributed
6. Jordan Brookes: This Is Just What Happens
Jordan Brookes is the current defending Edinburgh Comedy Award champion after winning for 'I've Got Nothing' in 2019. You can only win the prize once so he may go into history as the only act to be reigning holder for three straight years. This year's show 'This Is Just What Happens' is on at the Monkey Barrel at 9.55pm every night. Expect more agonising and hilarious insights into his tortured psyche. Photo: Contributed
7. John Robins: Work In Progress/Progress In Work
John Robins famously jointly one the Edinburgh Comedy Award's Main Prize with Hannah Gadsby's groundbreaking 'Nanette' in 2017. He may not have gone on to the same global superstardom as his fellow winner but his relationship breakdown show 'The Darkness of Robins' was similarly honest, funny and stark. He'll be back with a 'Work In Progress/Progress In Work' for just a tenner most evenings at 6.25pm at Just the Tonic at The Caves. Photo: Contributed
8. David O'Doherty: whoa is me
Irish musical comedain David O'Doherty has become one of the biggest draws at the Fringe since taking home the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2008 for 'Let's Comedy'. He's barely missed a year in the interim and will be back with more tuneful whimsy when he performs 'whoa is me' at Assembly George Square most evenings at 7.30pm. Photo: Contributed