The Marmite of the Edinburgh Fringe returns with another dose of hospital jokes, as infirmary DJ Ivan Brackenbury yet again offers his take on how to cheer up his patient listeners. Back for a fourth year at Edinburgh, this show is well worth seeing - although it won't be everyone's cup of tea.This is simply because Brackenbury, again portrayed by Tom Binns who has put huge effort into his other Edinburgh creation Ian D Mountford this year, has a recurring format that will please many, but annoy others. His jokes - ranging from a woman who makes her husband 'mental' by smearing chocolate on herself, to playing "Jump" to help suicide patients, was a fantastic new concept bringing something different to the Fringe a few years ago, and anyone who has not seen the routine should check it out for themselves, even if its not to everyone's taste.Yet the show - by Brackenbury's own admission - contains little new material (Ivan blames this on his creator being too busy creating Mountford) and the format does occasionally get tired, even to Brackenbury addicts. His interaction with the audience (in this case getting one member, Matt, to do the conga around the room) is excellent but quite sparse, but the magic of the overall act does engage the audience throughout, and is still a real treat to first-time Ivan goers.
