Rachel Fairburn recalls her most embarrassing Edinburgh experience; what she can't get enough of at the festival; and the worst thing about the Fringe. Apart from the cost of accommodation, obviously.

Fringe cringe 

I hate humour or stories about bodily functions but I was in Bannerman’s a few years ago and a man in there broke wind. It was so disgusting that the pub had to be evacuated, I’m not joking or embellishing this, people were outside dry-heaving into the gutter.

He had the utter audacity to go back inside with everyone once the area had been deemed safe. All was calm until he did it again. Clearly a man who went to the Boris Johnson school of arrogance. I told him he should be utterly ashamed of himself and took my business elsewhere. Maybe he was the man who gave Edinburgh the nickname Auld Reekie. 

Fringe binge

I always say I want to go and see more stuff when I’m at the festival but I am clearly lying to myself., I don’t want to see ten shows a day or even one show if I’m brutally honest.

The big question I ask regarding shows  is: ‘Am I in the show?’ If that answer is yes then I’ll be at it. I tend to do more normal things like visit museums. I also arrange to see friends and then make up excuses why I can't make it. I’m a bit of a Fringe hermit to be honest. 

 Fringe whinge

The fact that it’s still very focussed around acts from the London circuit and the costs keeping working-class performers out.

It’s a very middle-class festival and speaking as a working class person in the arts, the comedy industry can feel unwelcoming. I’d like to see more proactiveness from the industry to see performers who haven't got the PR to create a buzz for them.

Ultimately though, let's be honest, the entire thing is a racket and the reason I go is to do a show I am proud of everyday. It’s just a month of gigs, it’s not career or life-defining. Anyway, have a nice festival!

• Rachel Fairburn: Can I Be Awful? is at Monkey Barrel Hive 1 at 3.40pm throughout the festival, and will be bringing a live version of the All Killa No Filla podcast to Pleasance Grand on 16th August at 10.15pm.