The Comic Strip Presents...

Sunday 3rd August 13.15

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Way back in 1982 when Channel four was launched their big shows were Countdown and Comic Strip Presents. Well, the former is still running and Comic Strip Presents is now at the Edinburgh festival Fringe.

For just five performances Robin Ince hosts proceedings including a Question and Answer session with the creative genius Peter Richardson and a variety of special guest stars. We were fortunate enough to have the great Alexei Sayle.

It wasn't an auspicious start to proceedings as some technical hitches meant a change in the running order and we watched "Bad News" , which I didn't realise pre dates This Is Spinal Tap, and the stunning "Strike".

Having not seen these shows since they were first broadcast you forgot how well made they were and the sheer talent of everyone Involved. I also found it quite poignant seeing how young the likes of Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer etc were, as well as missing the great Rik Mayall and Robbie Coltrane.

With Robin Ince having arrived straight from his show "The Universe and the Neuro diverse" the Q&A could begin. It helped that Ince was clearly a fan himself, with a comprehensive knowledge of the subject. He was also the perfect person to control the Qs and manage the conversation with the two guests.

I am always a little uneasy at question and answer sessions as often the questions asked can be dull with the question setter can't always get to the point quickly enough. Today, however, I was impressed that the questions were concise and and interesting and mainly came from young people who can't have been alive when the shows were first broadcast.

I originally booked the tickets after the brochure stated the running time was two hours. I was therefore a little alarmed to discover that the running time was now an hour longer, especially as we had another show to see. Conveniently, they called a break at the two hour mark and we could make our departure safe In the knowledge that we had seen and enjoyed everything we wanted to.

This was a show which needed a surreal moment which duly arrived when we sang "Happy Birthday" to Mr S (a couple of days early), who duly received a sandwich cake. The significance of this meant nothing to me until it was explained to me about his radio show, Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Show Show. (DC)

A show for existing and future fans of Comic Strip Presents.

The Comic Strip Presents... plays on 8th, 9th and 10th August at Just the Tonic's Atomic Room at Just the Tonic Nucleus - details here