Comics take canal trip from London to Edinburgh

Reginald D. Hunter, Cardinal Burns and Jenny Eclair are among the comics who will travel from London to Edinburgh by canal – performing impromptu gigs along the way.

The boat sets off from London today and will make stop-offs in Cookham, Henley-on-Thames, Oxford, Stone, Manchester, Glasgow and Falkirk before arriving in Edinburgh for the Fringe.

Also taking part are Sam Simmons, Jarred Christmas, Idiots of Ants, Andre Vincent, Tim FitzHigham and Justin Moorhouse.

Details of gigs will be announced online, and the comics’ progress will be tracked via videos, podcasts and blogs on the official website.

Anthony Alderson, director of The Pleasance venue which is backing the project, said: ‘Mucking about in boats is a quintessentially British pastime, and what better way than to take comedy from the cultural celebrations of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe than on a canal boat?

‘This is where Victorian England meets the 21st Century; new digital technology bumps into the Industrial Revolution.’

Published: 28 Jun 2012