Edinburgh Fringe: Comedy you ought to see

The Fringe Festival is coming to Edinburgh this week to transform the city into an exotic carnival of drama, comedy and art. And judging by the programme, this city-wide celebration is refusing to be outdone by the Olympics.

Focusing on the comedy for now, there's a veritable mine of entertainment out there for the proverbial gold digger to discover. Here are six of the best established stand up acts returning to the festival with new material. With a number of comedy shows under their belts, these performers are wise to the crowds and sure to deliver the goods. Even so, punters are advised to make time to see an unknown talent as well. You never know – you might discover the next guest star of Mock the Week or 8 out of 10 Cats.

Fred MacAulay: Legally Bald 2
Possibly the most successful Scottish comedian on the circuit, MacAulay has been entertaining audiences across the nation since 1993, and he certainly knows his stuff. A regular of BBC classics The News Quiz and QI, his stand-up is everything you'd expect: sharp, witty and topical.

MacAulay's material ranges from the unusual (climbing Mount Kilimanjaro) to the comic's bread and butter (budget travel and baldness) all delivered with perfect execution and a belly-laugh guarantee. Benefitting from his easy laidback style, Legally Bald 2 is sure to be just as hilarious and successful as its predecessor Legally Bald. Stand 3 and 4, The Police Club, 28 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EP.

Fascinating Aida: The Cheap Flights Tour
The comedy cabaret trio return to the fringe for the Cheap Flights Tour. Despite three decades of performing, the group remains as fresh as ever, purveying their own personal brand of smut with style in the form of very rude and extremely funny songs with just a piano for accompaniment.

The songs are also full of satirical observations on modern day life, brilliantly written and made all the more hilarious by comic timing, outrageous facial expressions and a healthy dose of cheekiness. Those with a weak bladder are advised to take pads as many of the songs are very funny indeed. Stand out moments include homage to budget travel Cheap Flights and the hilarious Dogging, which explores the benefits of al fresco sex. Gilded Balloon Teviot, Teviot Row House, 13 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AJ.

Susan Calman: This Lady's Not for Turning Either
Ms Calman is a woman who knows her own mind, and boy, does she wants to share it with you. This feisty Scot has well-deservedly been getting some attention of late, with frequent slots on BBC Radio Four helping her to fill venues.

Calman is instantly likeable, combining a sense of whimsy with a charming demeanour and material on everything from self-mockery to dressing up cats. But she has a reputation for cementing serious issues between the silliness, including same-sex marriage and taking responsibility for one's actions. The result is altogether hilarious as well as thought-provoking, and all the more so for being unexpected. Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL.

The Early Edition
Presenting the Early Edition, the most topical show on the Fringe. Enjoy a free coffee and the company of comedy legends Andre Vincent and Marcus Brigstocke, who sit down at the Underbelly every morning to offer their dry observations on the items appearing in the day's newspapers.

Revel in Brigstocke's exasperation at the tabloid headlines or chortle at Vincent's playful delivery. Their comments are often hilarious and always on target, whether they're extracting mirth from the Olympic mayhem or celebrity culture. Underbelly, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL.

Daniel Sloss: The Show
Relative newcomer to the festival Daniel Sloss has already stumped up an enviable CV for any aspiring comedian. Appearing on the likes of Michael Macintyre's Comedy Roadshow and 8 out of 10 Cats, his stand-up manner is cocky but very easy to like.

In spite of the confidence – or perhaps because of it – it's the self-mockery gags which get the biggest laughs. His personal insights into growing up and family life form well-constructed anecdotes which can be enjoyed by anyone, and if you manage to get tickets before he sells out for the fourth year running, you won't regret going to see him. Venue 150, 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE.

Nina Conti: Dolly Mixtures
Groundbreaking ventriloquist Nina Conti muses on the meaning of life, love and the edge of existence. Or at least, she tries to, as her puppets won't let her get a word in edgeways. Conti gives a new voice to a dead artform, making it fashionable, funny and fantastically fun to watch.

Conti entertains her audience and keeps them spellbound with a number of distinct personalities on her arm, each of them refusing to let the show go as rehearsed. Expect laughs aplenty from this highly original performance. Pleasance Dome, 1 Bistro Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL.

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