David Cox
Aug 9, 2026
We first fell in love with Jim Judges as Ian Crawford in his delightful "Accident Avoidance For Cutlery Users Training - Level 2, this year he returns with a show about bus stops.
To find out what to expect, read on.
Firstly, (without giving too much away) what could we expect from Absolute Bus Stops Of Northern Europe and Beyond?
It's a joyous celebration of the often-overlooked magic, mystery and inner beauty of the humble bus stop. It's part stand-up, part slideshow and a chance to learn all about the official Bus Stop Rating System rolled into one.
Where did your fascination with Bus Stops come from?
In 1637, René Descartes famously stated, “I think, therefore I am” and on Tuesday 14th October 2025 yours truly observed, “I am at a Bus Stop, therefore I have time to think”. This more recent flash of inspiration led to the Absolute Bus Stops project, the Bus Stop Spotter movement, and the Edinburgh Fringe show. That and a love of all things amusingly bland and everyday!
What is wrong with Bus Stops Of Southern Europe?
All systems need a boundary, the atomic nucleus, the membrane of the plant cell, that white line at the edge of a cricket pitch that marks the edge of the field. To be honest, in the words of Jarvis Cocker "I don't know why, but I had to start it somewhere, So it started there" although maybe Southern Europe will feature in the sequel!?
There is an increasing trend for performers not to stay for the whole festival. You are only performing for one week. Can I ask why?
The Fringe is still a joy to be part of but the financial and time commitment is significant for anyone doing three weeks. I think one full week, performing eight shows will be enough. BUT if anyone wants to tempt me to stay and offer me an extra two week slot in their luxurious venue with free food and accommodation and a taxi or magic carpet to and from the venue each day I am open to offers!
How has it gone so far warming up for Edinburgh?
I have been developing the show as a work in progress since the Leicester Comedy Festival in February. I have also had the pleasure of performing at the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival. Kings Heath Comedy Festival and the Scarborough Fringe this summer. I have enjoyed every performance and had great audience feedback. I am also pleased to announce that the show has been nominated as Best Comedy show at the Scarborough Fringe, which is very exciting and an indication that my show (bus) is on the right track (road)!
We loved " Accident Avoidance For Cutlery Users Training - Level 2 " back in 2018. What has happened to Ian Crawford since then?
Thank you for your kind words and support! Ian is still doing well and has been a regular at the Fringe for many years with different themed shows. He also performs regularly on mixed bill stand-up comedy nights. He has recently performed with Hal Cruttenden, Milton Jones and Arthur Smith. He is taking a break during August to polish his cutlery, but fear not he will be back spreading vital cutlery safety awareness again very soon. See here for more details: https://www.jimjudges.com/iancrawford-gigs.html
Why did you feel the need to assume a different identity for that show?
That's a great question and as a PhD researcher at the University of Kent currently writing a 90,000 word thesis on character comedy (it's true - see here!) it's hard to give you a short answer...but in essence (a) because Ian is laughably flawed and a bit of a boring obsessive (unlike me); (b) he personifies Health & Safety "gone mad" (c) audiences seem to like him!
How are you finding performing as Jim Judges?
Nerve-racking, slightly strange but very liberating. Although I do miss wearing Ian's wig!
Amazingly, this year is the 40th anniversary of my 1st festival. What was your first festival and what did you expect?
I hitchhiked around Scotland in 1983 and arrived in Edinburgh in August, I was aged 18 going on 12 and that was my first experience of the Fringe. I was persuaded to enter a dark black box performance space to join five other audience members to watch a hard hitting political theatre piece which, to hammer home the underlying message of 1980s feminism, required us all to chomp on a banana and I didn't go back to the Fringe until 1996! I have been going to the festival most years ever since - I love it and it feels like a second home.
How did the reality compare?
The reality is a mix of excitement, possibilities, creativity and talent as well as a rapidly draining bank balance.
Your show is at 11.30am .How do you plan to pace your day and your run?
Performing early works well for me. I have found that there is an early in the day audience looking to be entertained and my brand of not too challenging comedic daftness tends to appeal. It also means that by 12:45 the show is done and I am packed up ready to step out as a Fringe-goer and enjoy the biggest and greatest mixed arts festival on the planet!
I attach our spreadsheet of the shows we plan to see. Who are you hoping to watch this year?
I love your spreadsheet and I can see a fantastic mix there. I know some of the comedians you list and have met or performed with one or two in my time. My approach is to book up a third; leave a third to more chance and free choice on the day and another third (to save money and for variety) will be from the PWYW PBH Free Fringe and Free Festival. Some of the shows I have booked are Jody Kamali; All aboard the Jazz express; Superbowl Salsa; Celtic Collective; A Haunted House; Pick of the Fringe. I will also be seeing character comedy from Mad Ron (Mad Ron Presents Identity Theft - the Gameshow), Tom Little (Tom Little in His Comfort Zone) and Michael Hughes in the haunting show about a very special battallion in the First World War: The Last Bantam
Who are your comedy heroes , past and present?
All the usual and fantastic TV comedians from the 1970s; Rik Mayall, Steve Coogan, Vic & Bob, Larry David, Alexis Dubus, Josh Pugh, Lucy Beaumont, Janice Connolly, Ray O'Leary and all the comedians I have interviewed on my character of comedy podcast!
The Fringe is a month of madness. Can you remember your favourite show and one that has stayed in your memory for all the wrong reasons?
So many great memories, including being invited out of the crowd to help Frankie Monroe with his trowel! Seeing Al Murray as the Pub Landlord back in the 1990s was great but one of my favourite shows from recent times was Lachlan Werner's excellent and thrilling Voices of Evil. I don't like to talk ill of those who have "died" on stage but I always say if I take a gamble on a show I want it to be really good or really, really bad! My experience in 1983 (see earlier) has stayed with me, everything has seemed much better ever since!
Tell us something we need to know about you?
Two of my previous jobs were: I used to work for McCain making chips and for two years I wrote cracker jokes for ASDA
The United Kingdom is currently in a heatwave (though not necessarily Edinburgh}. How are you coping?
According to my recent DNA heritage results I am 97.3% English and 2.7% Finnish and let me tell you I am 100% against all this heat! Mainly using a washing up bowl with cold water for my feet and doing the odd rain dance. BUT I am excited to be heading north to Edinburgh where the entertainment will be amazing and the weather will hopefully be a lot more sensible!
IF we meet up I owe you a drink, What is your tipple?
If the show goes well - I will have a pint
If the show doesn't go well - I will have a pint and a bag of crisps!
Absolute Bus Stops of Northern Europe (8-15 August) is at The Vault at Paradise in The Vault:
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/absolute-bus-stops-of-northern-europe-and-beyond