Stephen Carlin 
Blows the Lid off The Whole Filthy Business
It was earlier this year that I first saw Stephen Carlin when this London based Lanarkshire comic was on tour in Scotland with Phil Nichol. Although he only performed for a short while then, I thoroughly enjoyed his set and made a point to check out his hour long set during Fringe 2009. Straight into his preset banter with the audience in the rather intimate Stand Four, the imposing Carlin, oozing professionalism and bonhomie soon had one and all anxious to hear his stuff. To be honest his set was occasionally dark, often quirky, but always funny and although belly laughs were not too abundant I’m sure that all enjoyed his set. His look, currently like Peter Sutcliffe due to publicity material started the ball rolling and with a well crafted, and impeccably delivered hour included material about Bernie Eccleston, soap operas, stag nights men on the moon and Richard Madeley were just a few stops Carlin took us to on his journey. Although we are well into Fringe week three now his energy never dipped and all too soon it was time to end. Give him a shot if you can fit him in,, but don’t delay too long we’re fast running out of days.   ***