“Ever amiable comedian delivers parochial whodunnit”
Mike Wozniak is a charming, effusive and lovely man – but one you would never ask for directions. Sporting his classic look of fusty suit, tie and luscious moustache, Wozniak leans into a middle‑aged, small‑town persona to deliver his new Fringe show, The Bench. For fans of the Three Bean Salad podcast, this is an on‑brand bravura performance from the self‑styled “provincial dad”. Yet the hour struggles to ascend above a rolling titter as bizarre characters and contradictions mount up.
Wozniak is essentially a human tangent machine – there is no subject from which he cannot take a novel and inventive turn. A long line of digressions on village gossip and tittle‑tattle is strung into a whodunnit, centred around an investigation into a vandalised bench. The premise invites the audience to “sleuth” along as he takes you on a tour of parochial Devon, eliciting audience inquiries to help move the anecdote‑come-mystery along. The result is something like a rambling but amiable neighbour chatting over the garden fence – or Alan Titchmarsh delivering a true‑crime podcast, a quirky uncle freestyling a new Midsomer Murder plot.
He has spent many years working smaller Fringe venues, but recent TV fame courtesy of a highly original turn on Taskmaster (he was the original pre‑TV live champion) and podcast renown have made him a headline draw. And who could begrudge such a likeable figure claiming his dues.
The show is undeniably inventive, but relies on peculiarities rather than punchlines. And while the story is wrapped up neatly enough – a nod to the fact that Wozniak is an adept raconteur with far more control than it seems – it never really takes off in the way you might hope.
Show listing: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mike-wozniak-the-bench
Listings information:
Venue: Main Hall @ Assembly Hall
Dates: 6–16 August 2026
Time: 22:40
Running time: 60 minutes
Fringe Box Office: 0131 226 0000