*reviewers welcome at their own peril
“His performance is a treat…the finest horror pastiche I can recall on the fringe since Garth Marenghi hit his spine-chilling peak” ★★★★
Brian Logan, The Guardian
“a one-man performance masterclass… Doherty’s an energetic and engaging writer and performer with an infectious sense of character mischief” ★★★★
Ashley Davies, The Scotsman
The 10 best comedy shows at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026
Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will see the return of critically acclaimed writer and comedian Andrew Doherty. He is set to perform his brand new show, ‘Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!’ for the full month long run. Andrew’s return to the festival follows the release of his debut comedy drama on BBC Radio 4, The Real Housewives of The Wife House, featuring Ambika Mod.
In his brand new show, ‘Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!’, Andrew is once again set to delight and frighten his audience with a tongue in cheek revenge fantasy that every performer can relate to. The show marries classic hallmarks of slasher movies with laugh-out-loud gags. It will follow the story of Felix Chatelier – a know-nothing, home-owning reviewer who has been invited to be the head reviewer at a new fringe festival. In classic Andrew Doherty style, the seemingly quaint townsfolk are hiding a secret that only his off-beat and twisted mind could cook up. As Felix gets caught up in strange and scary happenings, he is left fighting for his life, and more importantly, his reputation whilst he desperately seeks the answer to the question ‘why oh why did I only give Andrew Doherty three stars?’.
Last year, Andrew enjoyed a smashing sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year with his sophomore show, ‘Sad Gay AIDS Play’, a biting satire of creating art today which garnered rave reviews. Andrew then took the show on tour with a run of shows across the UK, before performing a sold-out 6-night run at London’s Soho Theatre. In his debut year of solo comedy at the Fringe, Andrew built a name for himself as the new voice of comedy-horror with his ‘Wicker Man’ inspired debut show – ‘Gay Witch Sex Cult’. His unique style is consistently praised for creating and performing compelling horror comedy hours mixed with gleeful silliness and a ridiculous gag rate.
The rising star has cemented his place as one of the hottest, fresh new voices on the comedy scene. His unique style is consistently praised for creating compelling horror comedy hours mixed with gleeful silliness. Ahead of his debut run in 2024, he was tipped as one of the ‘six funniest comedians at the Fringe’ by The Guardian. He then went on to sell out his entire month long run and he later brought the highly praised show to London for three sold out runs at Soho Theatre. He has also performed the show at VAULT festival and at the Brighton Fringe, which saw him win the Best of Brighton Comedy Award 2024. As well as his work as a solo comedian, Andrew is well known as co-founder of the sketch comedy duo Megan from HR alongside star of One Day, Ambika Mod. Their 2019 show Children of The Quorn™’ was a critical hit in Edinburgh.
More praise for Andrew Doherty:
“charming… witty, dark, and at times, deranged… met by roaring laughter… delightfully dark sense of humour” ★★★★
Elliott Ridderbeekx, The Skinny
“a comedic tour de force… the queer folk horror comedy you didn’t know you needed” ★★★★
Kirstyn Smith, Fest Mag
“laugh-out-loud funny… if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud show that sneaks in some surprisingly serious ideas behind the jokes, then it’s unlikely you’ll find anything better than this particular Sad Gay AIDS Play.” ★★★★
Peter Cockburn, Broadway Baby
“immediately a delight on stage… The jokes are many and varied, from delightful one liners to very silly conceits… a very funny and well written parody show” ★★★★
Tom Moore, One4Review
“ a truly hilarious show… If you’re looking for a good laugh with a little horror, go and see this” ★★★★
Berlyn Lee, Ed Fest Mag
“I can only regret that I saw this show so late in the Fringe that I had no possibility of returning. Andrew Doherty has created something incredible here and I will look out for his future projects.” ★★★★★
Ed Fringe Review
“Andrew Doherty hits the mark once more… had the audience overcome with laughter from the first beat… well-written jokes and the incredible deadpan delivery… a one-man show that keeps you entertained for its entire duration, funny, witty, and eye-opening.” ★★★★★
Mona Montella, SNACK Magazine
“has a gift for delivery… it’s clear that Doherty is a multi-talented artist capable of impressive, risk-taking, and hilarious work… very very good, and continues to mark him as one to watch” ★★★★
Will Quinn, The Quinntessential Review
“Someone needs to get Doherty in a Hollywood writer’s room now… an incredibly strong script with lightning fast laughs per minute, but Doherty’s facial expression to what the audience laughs at is masterful to make the audience feel they are witnessing some special, which they are… a sharp performer” ★★★★.5
James Doherty, Fringesider
“outstanding show” ★★★★★
Merv’s Pick of the Fringe
“wickedly funny satire… wonderfully riotous and sharp show… wickedly funny… But what really makes this outstanding is Doherty’s timing, the little looks to the audience, the asides, the double take, each delivered effortlessly… I think we are witnessing a real, original, and genuine comedy talent here, see him before he gets moulded into something more mainstream!” ★★★★★
Paul T Davies, Fringe Review
“tickles the funny bone and shivers the spine… consistently hilarious” ★★★★
Kevin Ibbotson-Wight, The Wee Review
“a confident, engaging and hugely likeable performer… very funny” ★★★★
Sonny Waheed, Reviews Hub
“continually mining for greater laughs as he ramps up the absurdity and sends us hurtling through plot twists… wonderfully absurd” ★★★★
Jim Keaveney, The Arts Dispatch
“Doherty’s comedic timing and delivery are faultless… the jokes come at you so thick and fast, you are left gasping for breath in between chortles” ★★★★
Lost in Theatreland
“The energy is always high, and no beat is missed… this is a comedy masterclass… he is certainly one to watch” ★★★★★
Flora Doble, Spy in the Stalls
“Whimsical and silly… objectively well crafted. Off-the-wall, unhinged and deliciously devilish” ★★★★
Jack Mace, Binge Fringe
EDINBURGH FRINGE LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Andrew Doherty: Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard, Upstairs
Date & Time: 5th – 30th August, 10.50pm
Duration: 60 mins
Twitter: @AndrewShandrew
Instagram: @ADohertyComedy
For more information and interview requests, please contact: Jasmine Ruparelia – jruparelia@avalonuk.com or 07768776081
