Nick Dixon: Marriage Material will be at Just The Tonic - Mash House - Snifter Room, during August. 

  • Tell us about your Fringe show

It’s about getting engaged and my flawed attempts to become a normal adult man. But it also contains all my best stuff from years of playing the top clubs like the Comedy Store, supporting monster comics like Tom Stade, and Europe’s biggest comedian Gad Elmaleh, touring in Dubai, appearing on Comedy Central twice, etc. Although it is personal and honest, it is not one of these misery memoir shows that somehow pass as comedy now.

It is classic standup comedy. In fact it will probably be the funniest show at the Fringe. Just kidding! It will definitely be the funniest show.

  • How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?

I have actually been three times before, once when I appeared in the So You Think You’re Funny? final, again doing the show AAA at The Pleasance for the whole month, and once doing a half hour show. This is my first proper hour show though, which is very different. It will be just as gruelling and long, but with all kinds of extra pressures and far more money invested. I feel sick to my stomach just typing this…sorry, I mean I am thrilled to be experiencing the unique magic of the Fringe!

  • Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?

There is no way around it as a UK comedian. Industry people don’t come to actual comedy clubs, so one has to travel to a foreign country with jokes that normally get huge laughs, and perform them to a roomful of cynical and overindulged arts festival types. What I mean by that is, it’s a great chance to grow artistically and play to sophisticated audiences — all part of the unique magic of the Fringe!

  • If you were not a performer what would you be doing?

I am also an excellent musician so I expect I would be writing hit songs for today’s brightest stars. Adele. Rihanna. Smash Mouth.

  • How do you prepare for a performance?

I try to channel the spirits of all the great performers who have come before me. Hendrix. Springsteen. Manilow.

  • Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?

Everyone tries to tell you what type of show you should do. “It has to be a story show in Edinburgh!”, or the opposite “You should just do your best jokes!”. I believe the key is to ignore everyone and remember that you are the artist, producing seminal work that these losers could never dream of creating.

  • Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?

Enjoying a brief respite from the dystopian hell that is London 2018.

  • What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?

For several years in my early 20’s I was addicted to Irn-Bru. More recently, I campaigned to become an entirely independent nation state. 

Favourite Scottish food/drink?

Irn-Bru and a dish I discovered last time I was here called ‘Batter fried batter-butter’. It’s batter fried in batter and butter, for a blistering battery-buttery bite.

  • Sum up your show in three words.

Best Newcomer 2018.

Nick Dixon: Marriage Material will be at Just The Tonic - Mash House - Snifter Room, during August. For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com