The Edinburgh Fringe is fast-approaching, with plenty of famous faces such as Miriam Margolyes and Bill Bailey set to appear during the 2025 festival.
Taking place across 265 venues, there are already more than three-thousand shows lined-up for August and searching for shows can quickly become overwhelming.
But if you are looking for an easy place to begin, sometimes it is easier to start with what - or who - you already know. There are top comedians such as Alan Davies and Nish Kumar set to appear, as well as reality TV show winners like Hannah Byczkowski from The Traitors, or Scotland’s own Peter Sawkins from the Great British Bake Off.
David Hayman and Pete Doherty are among British celebrities with shows at this year’s Fringe. There are then American sitcom stars such as Caroline Rhea and Eden Sher putting on their own shows, in addition to multihyphenate performers including Nick Mohammed, Eunice Olumide MBE, and The Ballad of Wallis Island’s Tim Key.
There is a huge variety to the shows on offer during the Fringe and this list teases just a fraction of the entertainment which will be available in August. But if you are hoping to be inspired - or just looking for some general guidance - here are 36 famous faces with shows at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe.
5. Rhys Darby
New Zealand actor and comedian Rhys Darby first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002 and he has returned to the festival many times since. Outside of comedy, Darby has appeared in a number of films and TV series including Flight of the Concords, What We Do In The Shadows, Jumanji: The Next Level and Our Flag Means Death, which he starred in alongside Taika Waititi. His show, The Legend Returns, will run at the Fringe from August 1–10 at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33). | Getty Images
6. Jenny Ryan
Another familiar face from The Chase who will perform at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe is The Vixen, Jenny Ryan. Her singalong comedy show Björn Yesterday will see her explaining her theory that ABBA never truly existed, with further investigations involving Gillian McKeith. Ryan will perform at the festival from July 30–August 17 at Pleasance Courtyard’s Cabaret Bar (Venue 33). | Getty Images
7. Laura Benati
Tony Award-winning American actress Laura Benati will bring her one woman comedy show Nobody Cares, which features original songs, to the Edinburgh Fringe. As well as her extensive Broadway career, Benati has appeared in films such as Tick, Tick… Boom! and Scottish director Jon S. Baird’s Everything's Going to Be Great, and shows including Supergirl, Tangled: The Series, and The Gilded Age. Benanti will perform from July 30–August 24 at Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302). | AFP via Getty Images
8. Bryan Safi
Known for his roles in shows such as 9-1-1 and Netflix’s You, Bryan Safi brings his solo comedy show Are You Mad at Me?? to the festival from July 30–August 25, at Friesian, Underbelly (Venue 302). | Getty Images