What are you feeling now that the Edinburgh Fringe has gone? Is not being able to take off to Edinburgh and take your pick from 3893 productions leaving you bereft? Can’t quite cope without seeing shows about mental health, body health, ill health, feeling bad, feeling great, plays about approval or being cancelled, queer shows, children’s shows and mood shows and musicals and plays with titles featuring numbers such as 1984 (of course). And 1966 (why)?

Or what if you’re one of those who’d rather be anywhere but in Edinburgh during Fringe time, who consider the month-long performers to have egos the size of the Royal Mile, those who should get a real job and are really only one step up from influencers in the employment grading stakes? (And you still can’t work out why ScotRail can’t clip on an extra couple of carriages, which could mean you not knowing what the beefy bloke standing next to you had for his dinner. The day before.)

But here’s a defence for all that has been. Although this year there were 3,893 shows - exceeding 2019’s record level of 3,841 – gross attendances remain more than 400,000 lower. Which means that the acts must toil constantly like Nigel........

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