^{Picture: Sam Frank Wood}

Typifying himself as a British man who refuses to be ripped off at home and abroad, Josh Pugh has honest reasons for refusing to support small businesses as well as offering sound advice for fighting sharks. Fortunately for him, his wife allowed him to holiday in Magaluf soon after the birth of their child; although he also recounts one hilariously unfortunate story of being mistaken for a paedophile.

He may be incompetent at basic tasks as well as sorting addresses for his job at the Royal Mail but Pugh soundly promotes himself as the guy who just keeps turning up. The odd joke in this set suggests incompetence at comedy writing too, but when the gags just keep turning up, thick and fast, they’re extremely effective. 

Indeed, a semblance of incompetence has been well mastered by Pugh, so that flimsy dad-jokes contribute just as much to the act as his comedic grenades. He never lets the laughter subside. With consistently strong punchline delivery that avoids predictability, it’s often the introduction to a joke that gets the big laughs, as his audience anticipates the daftness to follow. Pugh’s top Fringe recommendation is the Elvis movie; let’s hope he keeps turning up with more silliness. 

Monkey Barrel, 25 August, 9.15pm, 26–28 August, 2.10pm.