Jack Whitehall

Given the many competition finals he reached early on in his career and his rapid rise to TV work, the 21-year-old Whitehall’s debut solo show at the Fringe was always going to be weighted with expectation. Watching him perform, it’s easy to see why there is a buzz around the lad; his is the assured presence of someone much further advanced in his years. He chats to the crowd with confidence and in a lovely moment later on makes a break for the door to scream at the crowd outside in the Courtyard.

Overall the material concerning his worry that he’s neither rebel nor man enough is, though amusing, a little pedestrian in places. But along the way there are fine moments with considerable bite: a comparison between the apostles and The Apprentice and a routine featuring Jeremy Beadle’s hand being two of them. Then, in the final five minutes events get much more interesting with a diatribe about his simultaneous love and dislike of his father. It certainly makes for a promising start.

Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 30 Aug (not 25), 7.15pm, £10–£11.50 (£8.50–£10)