EdFringe Review: Rosco McClelland: How Could Hell Be Any Worse?

Rosco was kind and brave enough to let me review his second preview of his 2025 Fringe show ‘How Could Hell Be Any Worse?’ and I doff my cap to him.

One thing is very clear: Rosco is a skilled and naturally gifted comedian. The most obvious gift is his voice – rich, laced with gravel, and above all, versatile. Coupled with some impeccable timing, his delivery makes most everything he says on stage 5-10% funnier, as measured on the chuckle scale.

Diving into the substance of the show, it’s a deceptively well-considered affair. On one level, it’s just him complaining about a broken world and all of the irritations he confronts day to day. Don’t mention tethered bottle-caps, or the Art Desk, to Rosco – or he may go all Robespierre on you.

Dig a bit deeper, and the show is attempting something less seen on the Fringe in recent years: an hour of observational comedy without digging out your deepest, darkest inner self. It’s a response to his stellar Fringe run in 2024, and the months that followed, which have left him feeling over-exposed and, for want a better word, wrong.

“One thing is very clear: Rosco is a skilled and naturally gifted comedian.“

He’s not wrong in thinking that at least some of the press does lap up introspective trauma-dumps, but that’s never been me. Throw a stone and you’ll hit 10 comedians laying it bare within a 500 metre radius during August, but you’ll do well to find even 1 who can make you fear death by laughter.

I reckon Rosco is more than equipped to dive into the latter category. He’s often compared to Billy Connolly for obvious reasons, and without becoming a pastiche, the Big Yin’s blend of sharp cultural observation, merriment, and outright daftness is one I’d like to see emulated more.

The good news is that, on his second preview, I’d say Rosco was about 85% successful in keeping things personable, but not deeply personal. His bits about haemorrhoids, algorithmic advertising, a youthful encounter with a child predator, and robot hoovers are particularly golden. Salutations as well, for his flirations with lighting effects – as black humour goes, it’s cheerful as heck.

The rating I’m giving the show reflects what I think it will be today, and more so tomorrow. Can I guarantee this? Absolutely not. But then, that’s the fun of going to watch a talented comedian determined to mould himself into something other than critic-bait.

Good luck Rosco!