★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Flawless material and impeccable delivery.
Rhys James has always been a safe pair of hands when it comes to comedy and last year's Fringe didn't feel the same without him, but thankfully he's back with his fifth show Snitch which is a masterclass in how to to write and deliver a stand-up show.
Taking that year off has meant that Rhys' return to the festival is one of triumph. With flawless material and impeccable delivery, Snitch is a beautifully crafted hour that's slicker, sharper and funnier than any of his previous shows and should be the talk of the festival.
Playing to his biggest room yet, the entire 146-seater were on board with Rhys with laughter rarely dying down and jokes that came at great speed with relevancy and accuracy - a skill that some comedians take over a decade to master.
He talks about being invited back to his old school to give an inspirational speech - but worries about what he can say to inspire the Year 11s who wen he walks in to the playground will probably mistake for "the new kid". He also discusses moving in with his girlfriend, flat viewings and an exchange with a landlord that's super relatable.
There's also a neat observation of the washing cycle for humans which once Rhys says it makes complete sense and you wonder why it hasn't been mentioned before.
This year's show feels like a real turning point in Rhys' career, it's by far his best show yet and I'm excited to see what the next twelve months bring - he deserves a lot more than just Mock The Week.
Rhys James: Snitch runs until 25th August (not 14th) at 6.30pm at the Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Above). Book tickets here.