“This was the ugliest Fringe moment I’ve ever witnessed” – this was the headline of The Telegraph’s review of Reginald D Hunter’s latest show. Which begs the question – why would you send a writer without a sense of humour to review a comedy show? 

We are talking about a clown who has been coming to the Fringe for over a quarter of a century, getting nominations for every award available, selling out venues and all whilst regularly naming his shows in the most controversial of ways – it’s not like his style snuck up on anyone!

We were not at this show for this reason, we were at this show because this is one of the finest stand up comedians on the circuit and we came to laugh.

Reg walks out on stage in a far more subdued manner than in previous years. It must have been a confusing week – as he says, it’s definitely the first time that he has been called anti-semitic and n**ger by the same person!

Reg’s style and delivery have changed over the years – back in the day he was powering to the mic ready to deliver a sermon of comedy on a very tight talking point. These days he has slowed things down (even more, he was never quick fire), and seems to find his anecdotes live on stage depending on where the show feels like it needs to go.

The thing that hasn’t changed is that he still has powerful, poignant and emotionally charged material that, when he pulls his bait and switch to deliver the punchline, is still incredibly funny.

It’s a show that equally mocks Klansmen, Liz Truss, the ridiculousness that is the Kardashians and the age-old question of why isn’t Kevin Hart funny. It really is sad that he is being given a rough ride for attacking one type of person, when he is clearly an equal opportunities offender!

With everything going on in the world, we need clowns who can pull the humour from the tragedy – we need to laugh. And this show does that.

Clown Stars: * * * * *

@Assembly George Square, Edinburgh