‘Throwback’ is often a dirty word in the entertainment game. It can imply a dearth of ideas or a desire to use nostalgia as a crutch, acts getting money for old rope while they scurry around for fresh inspiration. Yet this week’s batch of big Fringe announcements features a few throwbacks that are welcome returns from comedy icons who are more than deserving of a victory lap, whether that’s the Smack The Pony mob, US favourite Rosie O’Donnell or the little-known-by-anyone-under-the-age-of-45 Oblivion Boys. 

Away from the world of comedy revivals, the Book Festival is teasing its line-up, the circus is rolling into town and we’re shouting the praises of another act who we’ve awarded a high rating in the past. 

Edinburgh International Book Festival announces Front List series for 2025…

… featuring 14 events taking place at McEwan Hall. Leading the pack is Nicola Sturgeon, who’ll be chatting about her forthcoming memoir Frankly, as well as literary luminaries like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Maggie O’Farrell and Ian McEwan, plus a recording of Mark Kermode’s MK3D podcast.

Jenny Niven, director and CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: ‘We are thrilled to be returning to the beautiful McEwan Hall, and expanding our partnership with Underbelly to present 14 The Front List events in 2025. At this challenging moment in history and politics, we’ll be offering a comprehensively informed and critical eye on international affairs, and also the chance to escape them through the work of some of the world’s foremost fiction writers, entertainment, and sporting figures. There’s plenty more to come in our full programme announcement, but we hope our line-up for The Front List offers a delicious taster of what you can expect from this year’s Book Festival.’ 

Read about the full-line-up here.

Gilded Balloon unveils 40th anniversary programme…

… with a typically loaded line-up of comedy stalwarts. In the mix is Alan Davies (who’ll also perform at Fringe By The Sea), US veteran Rosie O’Donnell (making her first appearance at the festival after relocating to Ireland in protest against Donald Trump), Jenny Eclair and Michelle McManus. 

Also on the bill, Doon Mackichan and Kieran Hodgson will have a catch-up to reflect on the success of Two Doors Down; Hit BBC news podcast Newscast will make its Gilded Balloon debut; Caroline Rhea showcases a new hour; Michelle Brasier and Chloe Petts host Comedians On Stage Auditioning For Musicals; Women In Comedy returns; and more (including a Smack The Pony reunion, which we’ll chat about in more detail a bit later). 

Karen and Katy Koren, artistic directors of Gilded Balloon said: ‘We can’t believe it’s been 40 years since Gilded Balloon first presented shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from small beginnings in the Cowgate. We’re so proud to still be working with some of the most exciting acts in the country at the world’s biggest arts festival. To mark our 40th anniversary, we’ve revisited our archive to revive iconic shows like Women In Comedy, and invited back some of Gilded’s closest friends and success stories like Alan Davies and Jenny Eclair, as well as a Fringe debut for the inimitable Rosie O’Donnell.’

Check out the full line-up on Gilded Balloon's site. 

Underbelly Circus returning to The Meadows…

… with 11 acts across circus, cabaret, comedy, variety and more. A personal favourite of ours, Mythos: Ragnarok, will be on the bill to wow even more punters with its heady blend of Norse mythology and wrestling moves. 

Also performing is the latest show from CIRCA: WOLF, which brings modern circus to life with its ‘physicality and exploration of primal human instincts; Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, a punk cabaret which raucously blends live music, circus and comedy; Sophie’s Surprise 29th, a circus comedy which harnesses the nostalgic vibes of 90s house parties; and The Nose Dive Assembly, which is continuing the death-defying awe of traditional circus (complete with a Wheel Of Death). Kids shows are also well-served on the bill, with performances from Trash Test Dummies and The Ugly Duckling. Read our full report on the announcement here.  

Smack The Pony is revived for the Fringe…

…. with Doon Mackichan, Fiona Allen and Sally Phillips forming yet another jewel in Gilded Balloon’s crown this August. ‘This is slightly surreal because it's 24 years since we finished,’ the trio said. ‘We’re not old comedy, we now qualify as vintage, which is cool. Is it?

‘Because we always talk sketch ideas when we get together, on some level it’s almost as if Smack The Pony never really stopped - that it just kept going in some parallel universe. 

‘So it feels like Gilded Balloon is some kind of portal and we’ll be popping into catch up with Series 26. We're very grateful to have this chance to hang out and take the piss out of ourselves again – we’ve missed it!’

The show, titled Back In The Saddle, will find Mackichan, Allen and Phillips joined by Kirsty Wark as they revisit favourite sketches and ‘unveil new surprises’. 

We chatted with Mackichan on the release of her memoir Lady Parts in 2023, during which time she reflected on the legacy of Smack The Pony and the lack of female roles in comedy: ‘There are simply not enough female-led shows. When I saw Bridesmaids, I thought, ‘yes, at last.’ But did it spark a raft of similar things? No. I'm continuously asked about doing more Smack The Pony, because people are hungry for this. But it is mostly men who get the commissions, while many female stories are just not picked up. It’s a crime!’ Read the full interview here. 

They’re not the only comedy sketch troupe returning to the well. Peter Richardson will visit Edinburgh this year with a revival of Comic Strip Presents… the 80s collective that brought alternative comedy into the mainstream and helped make comics like Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Alexei Sayle, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders household names.  

Richardson (the founder of the group and the only person to appear in every one of their films) will be in conversation with Robin Ince for retrospectives of the comedy phenomenon, which will feature screenings of some of the troupe’s films. The screenings will also welcome special guests onstage, including Alexei Sayle. 

Richardson said: ‘It’s incredible to be bringing The Comic Strip back to Edinburgh over 40 years and 40 films later. We started out pushing boundaries and causing trouble – and we’re still at it. 

‘This is a chance to celebrate our favourite moments that we’ve done, share some stories, and hopefully make people laugh all over again at the world’s greatest arts festival.'

Meanwhile, cult favourites The Oblivion Boys (a sketch duo who starred in The Young Ones and Blackadder) are set to play Gilded Balloon and will be joined by Brenda Gilhooley as fan-favourite character Gayle Tuesday.

The Oblivion Boys will be at Gilded Balloon with dates to be confirmed. The Comic Strip Presents… is at Just the Tonic Nucleus on 2,3, 8, 9 and 10 August. Meanwhile, Back In The Saddle will be held at Gilded Balloon from Sunday 17 – Wednesday 20 August. 

Four stars or more 

Spirit Of Glasgow-award winner and Here Comes The Guillotine co-host Susie McCabe is returning with her new show Best Behaviour, which we expect will continue her trend for finely tuned observations and caustic humour. ‘Her anecdotal gags are unmatched, and her sell-out audience just can’t get enough,’ wrote Rachel Cronin in a four-star review. ‘McCabe’s playful jabs at Edinburgh and the middle classes (as a true Glaswegian should) are hilarious, and genius callbacks make for unstoppable laughs.’ Read the full review. 

Find McCabe on her Best Behaviour at Assembly George Square from Wednesday 30 July – Sunday 24 August.