Last week, after a particularly late night out getting my major organs in training for the month that is simply referred to as Edinburgh, I had my first Festival encounter of Jack Whitehall when he swiped my falafel. Actually, it was a genuine mistake at the counter, but after Jack sheepishly retreated into the night, the irony that his Edinburgh debut show is subtitled Nearly Rebellious was not lost on me.Jack is, by his own admission, a bit of a weed who wants to butch up. He wants to be a beer-swilling manly man rather than Smirnoff Ice-sipping toff. Hes had the university education that has given him the façade of a right-on liberal, but he actually thinks hes turning into his Daily Mail-reading father. And this all gives Jack something of concern.His set is a fast-paced mixture of improvised audience interaction and (at times) tongue-twisting scripted material. He talks about bankers, terrorists, fat kids and religion. He has a self-effacing style that suits him perfectly. And he wants George Lamb to be locked away on trumped-up charges so he can get more work at Channel 4.Theres little not to like about Jack Whitehall. His material is solid, and never fails to hit the funny bone. Even though he says hes an unproven comic without enough material to fill an hour, that concern can clearly now be put aside. His shows are selling out already, and were sure to see him as a regular headliner on the circuit. Jack, your father would be proud. And I think we all agree about George Lamb.
