Watching Josh Baulf is like spending an hour at the pub with your mates, but probably much funnier. Unless your mates happen to have award-nominated shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. The best way to describe Baulf’s comedy is with a word that’s only usually used at the Fringe by Dave executives: ‘banter’. The east London native presents himself as a firm outsider to The Guardian-reading intelligentsia, making it clear that there’s nothing clever and nothing profound about his stand-up. Despite this, he’s clearly a bit of a liberal softie at heart, and the show refused to stray too far into laddish territory. 

Baulf’s crowd work is excellent; he’s clearly honed it on the comedy circuit over the years despite being more famous for his viral short-form skits. But with Bulldog, he admirably proves that there’s more to him than these bite-sized routines, and the show is a well-written and, to paraphrase the man himself, well-funny hour. There’s some almost sweet moments as Baulf discusses his relationship, and some definitely-not-sweet moments as the show climaxes (sorry) with a disgusting anecdote about having to fellate a friend’s dog. Both subjects, however different, elicit serious laughs.

If you’re looking for an hour of good old-fashioned stand-up, this is for you. Baulf clearly never received the note that your comedy set has to make a serious point, Netflix-special style, and Bulldog is all the more refreshing for it. 

Josh Baulf: Bulldog, Underbelly Cowgate, until 27 August, 7.25pm.