Stuart McPherson and Paul McCaffery bring their tour shows to town, and Ruby Carr headlines XS Malarkey for the first time as another excellent week of comedy in Manchester looms.
As one third of Scotland’s favourite comedy podcast Some Laugh, Stuart McPherson has amassed an incredible body of work in a relatively short space of time. Crisps and a Lie Down is his fourth consecutive Edinburgh Fringe show and arguably his best to date, taking on his and his partner’s domesticated life and how it clashes with ideas of the future and their parents’ versions of the past. Sharp, biting and brilliantly funny.
People talk a lot about the “comedian’s comedian”, those who comedians all love but might not have the outside audience they deserve. Paul McCaffery could more than fit this bill, but does seem to be finally getting some kudos he deserves after smashing a recent set on Live at the Apollo and hosting podcasts with Seann Walsh (What’s Upset You Now?) and Rachel Fairburn (Gladrags). Get in on not quite the ground floor, but before he’s playing arenas at least.
- Words:
- John Stansfield
- Published on:
- Mon 11 May 2026
Rising star Ruby Carr (rhyming makes it even truer) headlines XS Malarkey for the very first time this Tuesday. The delightfully high-energy Carr will be joined by brilliant satirist Alexandra Haddow and moustachioed movie enthusiast/stand-up Chris Thorburn, as well as the always reliable Toby Hadoke. Tuesday nights don’t get much better.