Mark Nelson

Mark Nelson's comedy hero: Doug Stanhope

One charmingly profane comic praises another

18 Oct 2011

Naturally being Scottish, I have always regarded Billy Connolly as an inspiration and probably the inventor of modern stand-up. Growing up I always loved Jack Dee and Frank Skinner and now as a comedian myself there are comics I work with whom I…

Mark Nelson

Straight talker whose profanity is utterly charming

16 Aug 2011

With no narrative arc or gimmicks, Nelson presents himself as a straight talker, not scared of eliciting shocked gasps with his more provocative material. He deals in the controversial with a cheeky grin, as if the words magically appeared in his mouth.

The shocking, rude and offensive highlights of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe

The controversial shows of Edinburgh Fringe 2011

6 Jul 2011

If boundary-pushing comedy is your thing, or if you just like smutty jokes, you’ll no doubt find a suitably impolite act at the Fringe. Jonny Ensall ranks 2011’s controversial shows by their level of offensiveness

Edinburgh Fringe Festival comedy shows to look out for in 2011

Margaret Cho, Todd Barry and Imran Yusuf among 2011 ones to watch

9 Jun 2011

Down List way, we’ve just about recovered from the devastating news that there will be no sign this year of Bo Burnham, Jonny Sweet, Tommy Tiernan or Pappys. But if you think that kind of comedic void can be filled by this year’s galaxy of acts, then…

Rise of the comedy supergig in 2011

John Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard, Peter Kay, Lee Evans and John Cleese set for 2011 UK tours

12 Jan 2011

When we get to this point next year and look back at the comedy highlights of 2011, no doubt much talk will be of the supergigs. John Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard, Peter Kay, Lee Evans, Lenny Henry, John Cleese (yes, that John Cleese), Jason…

Mark Nelson - Offending the Senses

A jolt to the comedy system

13 Aug 2010

Armed with a stage presence that makes Wil Hodgson appear as hyper as any of the comedy Russells, Mark Nelson has opted to simply be a cracking joke-teller. And ultimately, in a Fringe packed to their mainly low rafters with weak concept shows…

Five new faces in British comedy to watch in Edinburgh

A quintet of bright and shiny debutants from the UK

30 Jul 2010

Joe Rowntree Hindsight is a great thing, but who knows where this guy would be now had his planned collaboration with Laura Solon in 2005 arrived in Edinburgh. She only went and won the Perrier on her tod and half a decade later, he’s making his…

Glasgow Comedy Festival highlights

3 Mar 2010

Frankie Boyle The mighty Boyle – slapper of small animals, biter of the handicapped [imagined details, as opposed to real fact] – was clearly down the pub on the day they were dishing out the decorum lessons. Syringe-sharp, endlessly abusive but…

Comedy Hitlist

The events bound to raise a smile

17 Sep 2009

Billy Connolly, Daliso Chaponda, Fred MacAulay, Iain Heggie, Mark Nelson, Miles Jupp, Scott Agnew, Scottish Comedian of the Year Grand Final, Stand Up For Myeloma,

5 things to see at: Merchant City Festival

3 Sep 2009

Kevin Bridges, Scott Agnew, Mark Nelson, Raymond Mearns, Scottish Comedian of the Year

Scottish Comedian of the Year

18 Sep 2008

STAND-UP COMPETITION Approaching its third anniversary, the Scottish Comedian of the Year final looms ever more influentially in the stand-up calendar. Inspired by Manchester’s City Life contest – won by the likes of Peter Kay, Chris Addison and…

*Hitlist

Hitlist

23 Apr 2007

Tony Carter (pictured) We’ve recently seen Will Andrews twiddling the knobs and flicking some switches as a tech guy for other comics, but we love him most when he’s bounding on stage as his feckless Geordie jester alter ego. Liquid Room, Edinburgh…

Mark Nelson

Raw energy

12 Mar 2007

Mark Nelson’s mouth has been getting him in trouble for quite some time now. Back in his day as a Dumfries schoolboy, he was indulging in between-song banter while appearing with local band Evac-Chair, named after the vehicle which transports an…

Leech

The Leech

2 Oct 2006

Like the MOBOs, but with fewer heckles and as likely to be attended by Beyoncé, the Scottish Comedian of the Year competition in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket saw Mark Nelson pip Paul Pirie to the coveted title, a £600 cheque, and the not so coveted trophy…