Fest Best: Fringe Heroes

Sarah Millican

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLICAN @ ASSEMBLY HALL, 12-28 AUG, 7.30PM, £13-£16

The punchlines tumble thick and fast from the irrepressible Geordie chatterbox, who, despite her relatively short time in the game, has become a titan of the comedy world. Never one for shoehorning attention-grabbing themes into her Edinburgh stints, Millican’s back this year doing what she does best: pure, unadulterated, ten-to-the-dozen standup with an insatiable enthusiasm for deconstructing sex, porn and masturbation as cheerfully as she will doughnuts and divorce.

Russell Kane

MANSCAPING @ PLEASANCE COURTYARD, 12-26 AUG (NOT 22), 8.50PM, £15.50-£17.50

Last year’s big nuts and the deserved winner of 2010’s best comedy show, Kane returns to pick apart the modern world's threadbare notions of masculinity. The snake-hipped fopster has previous experience in this game, having scrutinised his relationship with his right-wing ex-bouncer dad. Kane fizzes with ideas, managing more insight than most comedians would in twice the time. With his TV career flourishing, his star has very much risen, but this is his natural home.

Richard Herring

WHAT IS LOVE ANYWAY? @ UNDERBELLY’S PASTURE, 3-29 AUG, 8.50PM, £8-£14.50

Always on point, Herring’s provided many a vintage Edinburgh moment over 20 years of Fringe appearances, from mid-life stocktaking to gently probing at racial politics and even penis worry. Rarely out of the spotlight online and on the air, he’s kept busy along the way. There’s more of his trademark literate, careering comedy this time, as the burly Radio 4/podcast king seeks to “define and destroy love”.