Radio’s Fred pushes all the right buttons
Radio Four, and Radio Scotland presenter Fred Macaulay brings his stand up show to the Maltings
FRED MACAULAY ‘LEGALLY BALD’ The Maltings
HERE’S the man that millions of Scots put their ear to every morning when he broadcasts his daily Radio Scotland show but anyone who expected Fred to abide by the strict radio guidelines on language and content were in for a shock on Wednesday night.
From the off it was very easy to see why the Scottish funnyman’s standup career has lasted nearly 25 years. He was cheeky without being offensive, risque without being crude and most importantly of all was thoroughly entertaining.
Very taken with the elaborate stage (courtesy of resident panto ‘Jack & the Beanstalk’) that he walked onto, Fred looked very much at home at The Maltings and quickly ingratiated himself with those who’d come to see him.
Here was a man who wasn’t afraid to share some of his own mishaps to get a laugh. There were sympatetic groans all round from the men in the room when Fred recalled nights out that had gone on a bit longer than planned which resulted in a confrontation with his wife when he finally made it home.
Fred turned his humour to all manner of topics in a show that went by all too quickly. The much talked about referendum raised its head again along with the evolution of the mobile phone and the Olympics- prompting an insightful recollection of Fred’s experience at the men’s weightlifting final.
Tales of a chronic reaction from a room full of sporting stars to trying to judge when his wife wanted to leave a party by her facial expressions really endeared Fred to the near capacity audience.
On this evidence it’s easy to see why Fred’s career has led him down a number of paths. The wit that earned him a place on the ‘QI’ panel was there along with the cutting observations required for ‘Have I Got News For You’ and best of all the personality of a seasoned stand up performer who like his idol Billy Connolly should see his star shine for a good while yet.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North east
