Preview of 400+ Edinburgh shows

Today Chortle reveals the biggest preview of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, with details of more than 400 comedy shows.

The Fringe programme is not officially unveiled until next Thursday – June 5 – but we have compiled early details of around two-thirds of the comedy programme.

Because we are publishing these listings so early, some information is missing, or may be liable to change when the official programme is released – but they still offer a good taster of what will be on offer in Edinburgh this August.

Comics visiting the Fringe include Joan Rivers, Clive James, Jimmy Carr, John Pinette, Omid Djalili, Roy Walker and Paul Merton, as well as such festival favourites as Ed Byrne, Jason Byrne, Danny Bhoy, Reginald D Hunter, Russell Howard, Mark Watson, Stewart Lee and last year’s if.comedy winner, Brendon Burns.

More bizarre shows include Mr Methane – who can fart in tune – and Office Party, in which the audience are treated as if they are in a real party. Another show, The Meeting, will take place in a genuine office conference room.

Click here to browse the shows in our Edinburgh 2008 programme so far, or use the Edinburgh link in the menu on the left.

• Funny Women will be giving a £1,000 prize to the best female-led show at the Fringe. Producers will select comics to take part in three showcase gigs before a final at the Pleasance Dome under the scheme designed to ‘highlight the imbalance of female nominations and winners in the mainstream awards’.

Published: 28 May 2008