Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 – REVIEW – Ardal O’Hanlon ****

Ardal O’Hanlon, Assembly Rooms Music Hall 7pm, until 18 Aug, £15 (£13 concessions)

Even Ardal O’Hanlon admits that some of the audience may only know him as ‘that guy who pretended to be a priest’ and his antics in family sitcom My Hero as George Sunday (Thermoman) are also often associated with the Irishman. This aside, O’Hanlon became a stand-up well before his first acting stints began, and for one week only he is at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to deliver his new material.

Politics, relationships, country comparisons and everyday observations are all discussed in a relaxed yet controlled manner. His anecdotes meander in an unforced way and his comfortable demeanour make you think he knows all those in the audience personally.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naX4pGtsTZo]

Although his website could perhaps do with an update (they don’t make them like that anymore!), Ardal’s routine has an up-to-date feel to it, and is one that is multi-dimensional as much as it is personable and honest.