Alexei Sayle

Frankie Boyle once famously claimed he would give up stand up at 40, stating that once you pass that age you cease to be relevant. His idea was that that aging comedians who have reached a certain level of success have nothing left to say because they have nothing to be angry about. He has since reneged on this promise – and thankfully Alexei Sayle thought it was absolute rubbish too. And he’s entirely correct. Sayle might have no direct reason to be angry, but he’s certainly found a whole heap of frustrations to keep him busy for this hour of joyous bile.

After a hiatus of 17 years he returned in to the Fringe 2014. This year, he has plenty of things to dislike and rally against – Piers Morgan, Jack Whitehall and Arsenal football fans obsession with flying banners, for instance. There are references to the time when he single handedly changed the face of British comedy and booted out the right wing elite – under duress he admits he had a little help. But for the most part this is an hour of invective spitting with a master comedian with a new hour of material to gleefully dance and shout through.

He’s that same young upstart but now he has even less to fear. Gone is the angry young man, and in his place is the angry old man, just as blisteringly honest and funny as he’s ever been. It’s good to have him back in a time when discontent is more necessary than ever.