Some will know him from the dim and distant past as Barry Ferns. Edinburgh Fringe historians will know him as Lionel Ritchie. Others in the comedy scene of 2025 will know him, once more, as Barry Ferns.

And there you have the premise for his Fringe show, My Seven Years As Lionel Ritchie. This strong narrative hour charts the highs and lows of being a professional comic at the Fringe, the lead up to the shows, the many years of “this year is the one”, the debt, the bankruptcy, and the return to the scene.

We touch on many of these subjects in today’s interview to give you a flavour of what all performers face at the Fringe, as well as putting Barry’s work at Angel Comedy and The Bill Murray into context.