Ben Dover

Penetrating tales of filth with dodgy jokes
Everyone in the room knows what to expect from this chirpy pornography pioneer. His show is unashamed filth, packed with glorious details of the fascinating world of the professional shagger. In a Festival full of sex tales, it’s intriguing to hear the perspective of someone whose career has been based around being a well-hung opportunist. Tales of porn gone wrong and of the people behind titles from his infamous back-catalogue (including an amazing Bay City Rollers fact) are charmingly delivered to a rapt crowd.
And yet, subject matter aside, there’s something distinctly old-fashioned about Mr Dover. He’s a fan of the dreadful pun, as proved by most of his film titles, and his shiny suit, incessant pacing and dodgy haircut give him the air of a jobbing entertainer at a working men’s club. Perhaps appropriately, there’s a lot of groaning at the cheesy jokes designed to wedge this into the ‘comedy’ section of the Fringe programme. If only there was a section for ‘vastly inappropriate after-dinner speaker’. Now there’s an area he’ll always come first in. Bad pun intended.
Underbelly, 0844 545 8252, until 30 Aug, 10pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£8–£9.50).