Based on the highly excitable opening minutes of Tessa Coates’ new show (and the amount of times she thanks the audience for coming), you could, at first, easily underestimate this comic’s experience. Not only does she have two sold-out solo Fringe runs under her belt, but she is also part of critically acclaimed sketch comedy group Massive Dad (alongside Liz Kingsman and Stevie Martin) and co-hosts the highly successful podcast Nobody Panic (also with Martin). Putting all of that to one side, Coates begins her latest hour with great humility and politeness, strategically gearing up to tell truly jaw-dropping stories in the show’s second half that have audience members holding their faces in disbelief. 

^{Pictures: Rachel Sherlock}

Personal anecdotes full of pathos are very much the meat and potatoes of Grab Your Tessa Coates You’ve Pulled, as she jumps from an awkward encounter with an obnoxious wedding guest to finding herself at the start line amongst elite male runners at Brighton Marathon. Linking these stories is the impulsive behaviour (which she partly attributes to Attention Deficit Disorder) that gets her into these situations in the first place.

Though her most endearing gags come from niche references to Lord Of The Rings, Fabergé eggs and a passion for equestrian sports, the second half’s Hollywood tale (featuring John Malkovich and Steve Carell) is a big-hitter that steals the show. Coates herself could be described as a great crowd-pleaser; a comic who doesn’t need to ruffle any feathers to get a reaction. But who needs controversial material when you have stories as great as these?

Pleasance Courtyard, until 28 August, 6.05pm.