It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Baxter vs The Bookies by Andy Linden

Location:   Gilded Balloon Patter House – Snug (Venue 24)

Dates:  Jul 30th -11th, 13th-18th, 20th-25th

Time: 13:00

Price: £11 Concessions £10

Ticket Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/baxter-vs-the-bookies-by-andy-linden

Hello! Tell us about yourself?

Hi, I’m a towering 5ft 3, I’m 71, and while I’m not quite ready to talk to my ancestors yet, I am skeptical about going into an antique shop for fear of them not letting me leave. I’ve worked on building sites, laid railway tracks and trained as an upholsterer – but for the last 44 years I’ve been an actor in theatre, TV and film.

In the penultimate Harry Potter film, I quaffed a magic potion and turned into one of Harry’s decoys; in the TV series Not Going Out, I was the deranged upstairs neighbour scaring Lee Mack; and in the TV show Count Arthur Strong, I was the shady John the Watch, perpetually studying horse-racing form in the café.

Tell us all about your show!

My show, Baxter vs The Bookies, is on at 1pm The Snug, Patterhouse, The Gilded Balloon.

I play a down-trodden out-moded horse-racing tipster, who runs a telephone tipping line, called The Sure Fire Tipping Service. He’s painfully out of date in the modern world of computer stats, flashy websites and online gambling. In the show, he tells stories about the ups and downs of his chaotic life: getting drawn into an ill-advised betting coup; meeting an unusual postman with Nostradamus qualities; and engaging in a battle for his livelihood with a young flashy online bookie.

The stakes have never been higher. Will Baxter win big, or lose everything in his final showdown?

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

I can’t wait to see Alan Davies: Think Ahead at The Gilded Balloon; I saw his work in progress for this show and he was on top form, weaving dark, ridiculous and manic stories from his life.

Wow, The Oblivion Boys are on at The Gilded Balloon, Mark Arden and Steve Frost are on with Gayle Tuesday, aka Brenda Gillhooley – I knew them all back in the day and look forward to their brilliant chaos.

The wonderful Ivor Dembina has his show The Millwall Jew at The Laughing Horse – about how a Jew ended up supporting south London’s most notorious football club, Millwall FC.

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe.

God yes, I first did the fringe in 1985 and have played it countless times, doing stand up and plays.

My advice to performers would be: pace yourself, it’s only a month but it can feel like a year!

The Edinburgh Fringe is a weird bubble in which you can easily become obsessed with how everyone else is doing. So if you can, get out of Edinburgh – go to the coast, Dunbar or Musselburgh; see a football match, Hearts or Hibs; enjoy the brilliant restaurants of Edinburgh with non-performer friends and talk about anything except the Festival!

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Waking up is vital. Then coffee. Next plastering on a smile to do the obligatory flyering. Then go to a quiet place to get into the zone for performing. Do the show, and be fantastic. Chat with fans afterwards. Then chill with food, seeing a mate’s show and decompress with a drink.

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe?

Opposite where I stay is a great restaurant called Mums – great comfort food – 4a Forrest Road, Edinburgh.

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the rare times when you are doing a solo show, but feel like you are part of a community. You and your mates doing shows are all experiencing the same highs and lows and you are in the trenches together, telling stories and commiserating with woes and celebrating highs.

What is the hardest part about performing at the Fringe?

Competition, competition, competition. When I first did the Fringe there were only about 400 shows, now, my God, there are thousands. Everyone is competing for audiences, reviews, stars, and acclaim. You need to keep a steady head and not be sucked into the madness!

Do you bring anything special from home to make it feel more special whilst you are away?

My wife, my lucky cap and my false teeth!

What are your best hacks to save money whilst at the Fringe?

You can eat a lot for very little at Subway!

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

A water bottle, a small light rucksack and a blood-pressure monitor.

what’s the secret to successful flyering?

Get chatting and find common ground – people will come to the show if they like you. Doesn’t matter what the subject is, find a connection: football, cake-making, the occult – get them chatting and they’ll come.

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

TWITTER / X ACCOUNT: @AndyLinden1961
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT: andylindenactor

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show?

To be entertained!

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