With its chipper host and the beautiful Carol Vorderman, or any of her subsequent replacements, ‘Countdown’ has been a mainstay of daytime television for many years; by taking it to the Fringe and replacing the host with a bitter MC, Carol with a tubby man, and the clock with a dancing boy, the show has been given a fresh breath of life and, with it, hilarity. Sticking to the rules throughout means the audience can play along (and often beat the panellists – all, that is, except for the lovely ‘Carol’). An atmosphere of fun runs throughout ‘Comedy Countdown’ and everyone seems to be genuinely enjoying themselves; this is partly achieved by a mid-show break where they hand out biscuits to the audience.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 8 – 25 Aug (not 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21), 12.00am (1.30am), £5.00, fpp59.
tw rating 4/5
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Sections: by Julian Benson - ED2011 Comedy Reviews - tw rating 4/5 | Tags: Best Medicine Management, Gilded Balloon
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