◆ Trending: Five Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 shows you can already book
The first tickets for this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe went on sale this week. Taking place from August 2-26, the full programme launch isn't until Wednesday, June 12, but the first 190 shows are now on sale. Here are five that caught our eye.
Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits: The irrepressible Miriam Margolyes will be back in Edinburgh for the first time in 12 years with her show featuring a host of Charles Dickens' most colourful characters. She's been performing the author's work since 1989 so you're in safe hands .. it will beat the Pleasance's EICC venue for nine days from August 7.
Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk To Drink: Bathgate comedian Fern Brady has enjoyed a remarkable rise to fame in recent years - both as a standup and as a bestselling author. She's bringing her new show to Edinburgh for enormous show at the Playhouse Theatre on August 22.
Jessie Cave: Multitalented writer, performer, illustrator, standup and Harry Potter actor (she played Lavender Brown) Jessie Cave had a work in progress of this show at last year's Fringe.at the Assembly Roxy from July 31-August 25.
Raymond Mearns: One of the most consistently funny Scottish club comedians, Raymond Means is making a welcome return to the Fringe at the Hootenannies venue just 12 months after having to cancel his entire run due to suffering a stroke.
Colin Cloud: Consequences: "Your mind will be expanded and your perception forever transformed" is the modest promise from stage mentalist Colin Cloud, appearing at the Underbelly for a full Fringe run. His impressive skills saw him reach the semi-final of America's Got Talent, and you may also have seen him baffle and entertain on Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show.