one4review | On 10, Aug 2026

Finlay Christie returns to the Fringe with his new show Champagne Casanova. This could be a reference to Finlay’s description of growing up with the champagne socialists of Islington. Would he describe himself as a Casanova? Well, if the story about being mugged by a couple of women he thought just fancied him is true, then this might be misjudged!

Finlay is a relaxed and very confident performer with a natural ease about him for such a young comedian. Audience interaction is handled in a cheeky juvenile manner that manages never to offend. He won the So You Think You’re Funny Edinburgh award way back in 2019 and boasts more than 178,000 followers on Instagram.

The show is a mixed bag of Finlay’s experiences growing up in a comfortable and safe bubble with middle class parents and private school. There is certainly a naivety that is demonstrated in his admission of having a slight admiration for Kim Jong Un and of his understanding of the past history of the British Empire!

The show may lack structure but the thread that holds it together is Finlay’s personality, his stage presence and his ability to command the audience and keep them on side.

Finlay is undoubtedly currently one of the best young comedians on the circuit. His naive observations on life and the world as he sees it are akin to The Inbetweeners school of thought. His charm offensive is clearly winning over the packed Monkey Barrel venue tonight, his massive online following and beyond.

****1/2
Reviewed by Margot
22:40 at Monkey Barrel 4
3rd to 30th August