ONE HILL OF A RUN

12 CRAIG HILL:

CRAIG Hill will be performing his 19th consecutive Edinburgh Festival Fringe next week as the world’s biggest art extravaganza celebrates it’s 70th anniversary. The kilted comic from East Kilbride leads a strong Scots contingent which includes Craig Ferguson in his first show in 24 years, Frankie Boyle, Daniel Sloss, Mark Nelson, Michelle McManus, Fred MacAulay and ex-First Minister Alex Salmond. Also at the Fringe, which starts next Friday and runs until August 28, big guns like Sue Perkins, Ruby Wax, Al Murray and Phil Jupitus will join the nearly 3500 acts in 300 venues. Fringe veteran Craig admitted: “I reckon it is something I will always do. “It’s become part of my year that I love and I think if you’re a Scottish comedian with such a big festival on your doorstep, why would you not to do it? “When I go to see shows, I still think the standard is really high and the Fringe keeps surprising me with interesting, creative ways to do a show.” The Fringe may be 70 but she’s not ready for an old person’s home just yet. Craig added: “Every year, without fail, I keep discovering really talented performers. Also, every year, there are lots of new people doing comedy or theatre or cabaret or circus to keep the festival vibrant and interesting and exciting.” Of course, one bugbear is how few Glaswegians go through to Edinburgh to enjoy what the Fringe has to offer. There are a lot who go through but the main problem is lack of trains. This year, there will be extra late night trains leaving at 12.01am and 12.30am and extra carriages at weekends but as Fringe-goers know, some of the best stuff happens after those trains leave for the west coast. Craig said: “Sometimes it’s just the commute but I think they’re starting to put more trains on during the festival so people don’t have to rush off. “I always find quite a few fun up-for-it Glaswegians in the audience coming through to see