Show 7: John Kearns: Don't Worry They're Here

Having won the Best Newcomer followed by the Best show in consecutive years, John Kearns made quite the mark on the comedy scene. After taking some time to further hone his writing, Kearns returns to the Fringe for the first time since winning Best Show.

It's a show about placing a bet on a horse, but really it's a display of Kearns' very left field but brilliant mind. I'd heard people say that after creating the character of 'The Man', Kearns' writing hadn't changed, but rather the slightly weird, offbeat thoughts are acceptable and audiences 'got' him. It's hard to imagine Kearns' syncopated, deliberate delivery done deadpan, but in his 'character' it works tremendously.

He opens up in Bolshy style, "Can you feel the tension in the room? You think it's hot? Nah...not me" [while clearly sweating]. It's bold, it's brave, it's ballsy but somehow he won me over. There's some crowd interaction that Kearns' carries well, and the slight glances into the writing and structure (having said there was only 5 minutes left 40 minutes into the show, he breaks character and anxiously warns us he might overun) just enhance the whole experience.

It's a unique style that he's pulled off well; it's no wonder he wowed the judges.

Score: 9/10

Venue: Heroes at Monkey Barrel, Blair Street

Dates: 7th-27th August (not 16th)

Time: 17:00

Price: £7 to guarantee entry or pay what you want at the venue