First thing's first: A lot of people will check out Great British Bake-Off star Glenn Cosby's Edinburgh Fringe show expecting cake. Don't worry: there is cake.
The incredibly popular contestant from the 2013 series keeps his audience entertained with anecdotes from his life while whipping up a storm with a cake topping that's essentially chosen by members of the audience, and he's a captivating storyteller. His tales of growing up as the titular Food Junkie are impossible not to smile at, particularly when he refers to anyone who could have provided his younger self with nibbles as his "dealer".
Glenn Cosby (Photo: PR)
He also has some great tales from his time on the popular reality show; including stories about Mel & Sue's love for an innuendo and the producers' desperate need to get an interview before, during and after anything remotely interesting. Those who aren't GBBO fans may be a little at sea, but the majority of the audience are - and love hearing about it.
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Getting two spectators up on-stage in the final stages to get stuck-in with a whisk-off is a great move, and when he sells and signs copies of his new recipe book afterwards, 95% of the audience congregate to pick up a sample of the delicious concoction he'd just made.
If you want to judge it as a stand-up comedy show, Food Junkie isn't exactly a side-splitting, thigh-slapping rib-tickler, and there are times when Cosby seems more nervous than he needs to be when delivering some of his punchlines. But he's a lovely, lovely man and a natural entertainer; making Food Junkie a must-see for anyone who fell in love with him on the Bake-Off. Let's just say if the show was a tart, it wouldn't have a soggy bottom.
3/5
Glenn Cosby: Food Junkie plays daily at Assembly Roxy until August 25 (not 11) at 16:00.
