Kevin Cruise

I’ve got to confess that when I saw Kevin Cruise on Britain’s Got Talent, I fell firmly into the Simon Cowell "Absolutely no comment" camp, rather than the Amanda Holden "I love him!" camp.

In person though, you can’t help falling a little bit in love with the glittery-suited Cruise. His enthusiasm is highly infectious, and his cruise-liner-themed cabaret show is the perfect antidote to this grey Scottish summer. We played bingo! And carved up fruit! There were sweets! By the end, even the most straight-faced of punters was on their feet, shaking away to some '70s classics.   

Amid the serious theatre of the Fringe, this serves as a good reminder that there is a place for fun shows too. Cruise is more used to adult crowds, but he has toned down the act so that it’s entirely appropriate for a family audience. This was the most feel-good, laugh-out-loud hour I’ve spent at the Fringe so far. Simon Cowell is missing out.