This year sees the return of Daniel Cook, who only made his stand-up debut last year but is already back with his second show, For Money.
I caught up with Daniel to find out what he loves about the Fringe, how he puts a show together and what he's most looking forward to about this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
So you're back at the Fringe this year, what keeps you coming back?
I really like writing shows. My favourite thing is putting together an hour of comedy. I like being what happens come August.
The main thing I like about the Fringe is getting to do the show every day to an actually audience. I don't ever get that opportunity back in London really.
Do you like having that deadline every year? Something to work towards?
Oh yeah. I wouldn't write anything if I didn't have a deadline. I'd just be sat in my living room watching Cricket... Which is exactly what I am doing now!
It's nice when you finish the last one in August and you go away in September and wonder what the next one is going to be. You may then have an idea but 10/11 months later it's completely different from what you thought it would be. You've created something new.
How long have you been working on the show for?
I do a first work-in-progress in January where I chuck all the ideas I've got in my head out there and see what happens. Then I had an idea for what I wanted the show to be and then you write the blurb in February and it's slightly changed from what the blurb is suggesting. It's not all about money.
Does the title For Money still ring true to the show?
Yeah. I think so. It's a stupid title and this show is for money and in a way it's about money as well.
What can people expect when they come and see the show?
I'm just a man child screeching at the audience, gangly and in despair but it's funny I think. It's a bit weird. It's a fun hour. You can just sit back and watch me go off on one. It's just stand-up.
How have the previews been going?
Yeah, they've been nice. I'm waiting to have a really shitty one and I'm sure that will happen soon but it's coming together.
Everything needs tightening up and I've only just come up with an ending. I've just been abruptly finishing it after 45 minutes and telling people that by August there'll be something at the end!
But I think I've worked it out now. I tried it out last week and it got a nice response.
Are you finding it easier or more difficult to fill that Edinburgh hour this year?
This is only my second stand-up show so I've found it exactly the same as last year. I didn't do one of those things where you add ten minutes to your set over a period of years and ten your first stand-up show is a collection of the best material.
I essentially just wrote an hour that year so the process of creating it this year wasn't a surprise. It is hard but you just have to trust that stuff will come to you and what I don't do is stress about it and force it.
I walk and listen to a lot of music actually. That's how I get inspiration, it just clears my mind and then something pops in from there. That's how I came up with the ending anyway.
What are you most looking forward to about the Fringe?
What I like most about going to the Fringe is watching loads of shows. I guess I started doing comedy because I like comedy and my show is at 1:20pm so I've got the whole day to watch shows.
Sometimes you get those comedians that are all judge and when the audience don't laugh analyse everything. I'm literally there to have a good time and enjoy the show!
There are loads of people I want to see; Colin Hoult, Jack Barry, Fin Taylor, John Kearns... so many people! Literally everyone.
Finally, how would you sum up this year's show in just five words?
Compromise. Struggle. Futility. Daniel Cook.