one4review | On 11, Aug 2026

Marc Jennings had been popping up regularly on my Facebook Reels and TikTok feed recently, so when I discovered he had been selling out shows at the Fringe for the past few years, I was curious to see whether a full hour of material could live up to the promise of those short clips.

This was another sold-out show, although Jennings repeatedly joked that this was more about the result of a two-for-one Monday offer and Scottish tightness.

His opening joke  pointing out a Glaswegian’s comfort in Edinburgh in the aftermath of a recent fire on Princes Street, It felt like a show that Scottish audiences would appreciate slightly more than visitors from further afield, packed with jokes and observations that hit close to home.

The show is built around observational comedy, supported by a steady stream of sharp funny one-liners that keep the audience laughing and nodding throughout.

When he ventures into potentially divisive territory, including immigration and references to a former First Minister and her estranged husband, there is a brief sense that the atmosphere could shift. However, Jennings handles these subjects with such humour that he never loses the room, ensuring the jokes land appropriately.

Among the many topics covered are the Tartan Army, women’s football, the notion of a middle-class Scot air-frying a Mars Bar, and the idea that climate change could one day transform Scotland into a holiday destination. “No carbs before Largs.”

Alongside the more topical material are some warm and genuinely funny family anecdotes. The running thread involving the former First Minister returns throughout the hour, before Jennings closes with an excellent story about a recent romantic encounter. It’s a tale that suggests we never truly know what our partners are up to and may even find ourselves unknowingly complicit in their misdeeds.

Jennings is sharp, witty, and effortlessly likeable. On this evidence, he looks set to join the long line of successful Scottish comedians who have made their mark way beyond the Fringe.

****1/2

Louise Heathcote

Monkey Barrel 1 (may vary)

19.35 (1 hour)

Until 30th August