Saturday Night Best Of The Fest

Saturday Night Best of The Fest 

For one long weekend, venues across the city will host an exciting programme of live comedy, including stand-up shows, Edinburgh preview performances, interactive dining experiences and family-friendly workshops. Whether you're planning a Friday night out, a Saturday showcase with friends, or daytime comedy for younger audiences, there’s something for every taste and budget.

Rhys James

Described as a ‘master of the lightning-paced, gag-dense, precision-delivered set’ (The Guardian), Rhys James is best known as one of the final regulars on BBC’s Mock the Week, as well as appearing on Live at the Apollo, QI, A League of Their Own and, in the US, The Great American Joke Off.

In 2025, he released his debut memoir You’ll Like It When You Get There: A Life Lived Reluctantly, of which the Radio Times said ‘there are laughs pretty much every sentence’. The book’s release also led to Richard Osman calling Rhys ‘one of the funniest men in the world’ on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.

Rhys’ sharp writing and playful style have established him as a firmfavourite on the British comedy scene, selling out two national tours andsix critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe runs, along with creating andstarring in three shows for BBC Radio 4, including the ARIA nominated Rhysearch. His U&Dave lecture I Stalk Strangers Online became a viral hit, amassing over 15 million views, and his debut DVD Spilt Milk sold out completely in just 90 minutes (there was only one copy) – fortunately you can now watch that online

Ninia Benjamin

Star of BBC2's "Three Non-Blondes" Described by the Voice Newspaper as the Comedy Assassin, Ninia Benjamin is certainly not shy in her approach to comedy. Although she doesn't carry a gun, Ninia's wit and cheeky persona is sure to kill any daring heckler's attempts stone dead. Armed with a big smile, Ninia's warmth on stage, and off, lets her get away with murder. Ninia's recent start in the world of solo stand-up is off to a good start. She's a performer who has natural confidence and bonhomie on stage and it will not be long before she establishes herself as a future star. Ninia's experience so far ranges from warm-up act for BBC2's Blouse & Skirt to performances in the Hackney Empire both as a celebrity guest for "Battle of the Sexes" and in the well-known New Act of the Year competition. Although new to today's stand-up scene, Ninia enjoyed success in the early 90's as part of the female comedy duo, M&N Society. The two women toured across the UK and over to their homeland islands of Jamaica and Dominica. The duo also did the warm-up for the critically acclaimed BBC2 show The Real McKoy. Ninia's talents don't stop at stand-up. She has significant experience as an actress and has starred in a wide variety of plays such as a stage production of "Malcolm X" and "A Yorkshire Tragedy" (The Royal Court Theatre). Ninia has played the lead role in the record-breaking run of Waiting to Inhale" at the Theatre Royal and, more recently, "Woman on Top" at the Hackney Empire. Ninia's TV appearances include Michael Barrymore's " My Kind of People" and BBC2's "Black Briton" and "The Day The Changed My Life".

Paul Tonkinson

A sensational live performer, Yorkshire man, marathon runner and former (double award-winning) Time Out Comedian of the Year, Paul Tonkinson has long upheld his esteemed reputation as one of the finest stand-ups the UK has to offer. With a unique and distinctive style, Tonkinson is noted for his effervescent physicality and skillful impressions, which bring alive exuberant, tender comic reflections on love, family and the day-to-day idiosyncrasies of 21st century living. A plethora of first class material, combined with tremendous charm and irrepressible, infectious energy make for quite a formidable talent.

On TV, he’s most recently performed on BBC One’s Michael Mcintyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Comedy Central’s The Comedy Store and The World Stands-up. He was recently a contestant on Ch. 4`s hit show Celebrity Come Dine With Me, proving he’s not just a dazzling stand-up talent, but a whizz in the kitchen, scooping first place to win the cash prize for charity. Back in the day, when he was a mere whippersnapper he had a stint presenting Ch. 4’s The Big Breakfast and he has also presented radio shows on XFM in London and Manchester. He has just completed a stint as a Programme Associate on BBC One’s Michael McIntyre Chat Show.

Olivia Lee

Olivia Lee is a multi award winning writer, stand up comedian and actress, with a long track record of creating, writing and starring in her own TV shows. She has many scripted projects in development with UK & US production companies and broadcasters.

A well known face of TV comedy, Olivia started her career on Channel 4’s hit comedy show ‘Balls of Steel’ with her own slot called ‘Prank TV with Miss Lee’. She created her own vehicle for Channel 4, ‘Olivia Lee’s Naughty Bits’. This led to her own series on Comedy Central; ‘Olivia Lee: Dirty, Sexy, Funny’. The USA came calling and Olivia was invited to regularly appear on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ where she wrote and starred in her own regular comedy slot. That led to truTV giving Olivia her own comedy pilot ‘The Olivia Lee Show’ – which Ben Stiller produced with his company Red Hour. As an actress she has starred in many BAFTA nominated shows.
 

Tickets: £25

Address: Milton Keynes Gallery, 900 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3QA, UK

Timings: Foyer Bar Open: All Day Auditorium Entry: 6.00pm Show Starts: 6:30pm