Edinburgh Fringe review: Simon Brodkin, Screwed Up

Donald Trump, Sepp Blatter, Theresa May, Simon Cowell. Over the years, Simon Brodkin has upset a lot of people with his antics.

And, it turns out, the latest is in the audience for this late show at a packed Pleasance Cabaret Bar.

As he begins a small section on the war in Ukraine, there’s a heckle from the crowd and a shout of “you’re not funny.”

With material like that it’s probably not the hardest heckle to deflect back, but Brodkin handled the walk-out of two audience members with ease and nothing derailed what was a great show packed with topical and personal gags and a glimpse at the man behind the stunts.

We’re more used to his controversial character Lee Nelson or his numerous pranks over the years – which have included throwing cash over Sepp Blatter and swastika-covered golfballs over the future president at Trump Turnberry.

But we learn that Brodkin is processing an ADHD diagnosis, the fact that his ancestors fled persecution in Russia, and the disappointment that every time that he appears on the news he’s referred to as ‘an anonymous prankster’.

That, it turns out, isn’t ideal when trying to get a place in the I’m A Celebrity camp.

Overall, this is a great hour that’ll have you laughing along with a man whose most fascinating character, it turns out, might just be himself.