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Where There's A Wil ... There Is Laughter

31 Jul 2025

It is very seldom that I find anything or anyone here in August that makes my wizened, embittered old heart lift and sing. But I spoke to Wil Mars recently about bringing back Some Guy Called Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe, to fill the gap left by TV channel Dave – who evidently couldn’t be arsed to wade through a month of one-liners – and my wizened, embittered old heart is singing like a show queen at a Sondheim karaoke night.

I care about one liners and proper jokes.

It is quite something to listen to someone like Wil. “I care about one-liners and proper jokes – I absolutely love them. Hearing a great one makes my week or month or year. That's why I'm bringing back the (Some Guy Called) Dave Joke of the Fringe and putting up the £250 prize money from my own pocket.”

And it gets better: “I care about standup. Proper comedy club standup. And it should have a place at the Fringe. It should be respected more. That’s why I’m doing the Edinburgh Fringe Comedian of the Year, encouraging comedians to do their best stuff, and putting up the £1,000 prize money from my own pocket.”

As he talks, I can feel there might yet be hope for the Fringe at every level.

“I care about comedians. Especially the ones that aren't in the spotlight. That's why we're doing the Joke Sellers show, with all ticket monies and joke auction money going to Comedy Support Act – the comedians’ benevolent fund.”

I know what you're thinking – at the end of the last paragraph there’ll be a little laughing emoji and a “gotcha”. Nope.

Back to Wil.

“I care about sketch comedy, and when it's done well, it's SO MUCH FUN. I grew up watching sketch on TV, and you just don't see as much nowadays. I'm bringing my Sketch Thieves show back to the Fringe to help give sketch acts another opportunity to showcase their brilliance and help them to find an audience for their shows.”

He even cares about non-performers.

“I care about Fringe audiences. They've treated me so well over the years. They’ve loved my Joke Thieves show more than anything else I’ve ever brought to the Fringe, and so I'm bringing it back for them.”

I’m having a quasi-religious experience here…

“Oh, and I'm also doing my own solo show – but that's just me telling all my best one-liners and recording it every day for YouTube.”

Go, people. Watch. I doubt we shall see his like again.

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