Tommy Holgate talks about his new show, Man In the Middle.

1 Tell us about your Fringe show

Man in the Miracle sounds a bit like the popular Michael Jackson song Man In The Mirror. Like the song suggests to do, I take a look at myself, and make a change. Not a costume change, for this is one-man-and-a-microphone territory performed accompanied by a meer two props; a teddy bear and a flipchart. The show centres around 'my' role as a 'man' in the 'miracle of life'.

A life that has seen the past two summers away from Edinburgh, focussing on Holistic Health certificate, and running for Parliament in the 2015 General Election before spending the last 6 months practising to become a crystal healer in a wellness retreat on the mountains of Portugal in preparation for this in order to make genuine self-empowerment funny.

And it is genuine as well. If you come I will tell you that you are a miracle many, many times.

2 Best thing about the Fringe?

This year it will be enjoying the priviledge of being able to constantly tell people about what a miracle they are. Whether that be for the hour that my show is on, or for the other 23 hoursof the day.

Before my fully fledged vegan days, I did used to enjoy the yoghurt coated snack selection from the Pleasance Dome shop. Sometimes it was banana chips, sometimes it was cranberries. Rarely raisins if I'm honest, but regularly peanuts.

I also love the random and spontaneous nature of street performance, and plan to make the most of that this year by exhibiting a large quantity of experimental freestyle body popping.

3 Worst thing about the Fringe?

A memory I have from eight years ago, during the party days, when I first came to perform at the Fringe. It was midday on day four. The sketch group I was in had been drinking heavily since day 0. One member had lost his voice.

I got a phonecall from fellow performer and flatmate Nish Kumar about the state of our other performer, Mark Smith. Nish said: "Tommy, I'm with Mark and he's had some heart palpitations. We're on the way to hospital.

"Which one?" I asked, "I'm on the way to hospital now."

Nish: "You already knew?"

Me: "No, the doctor's just told me I've got gangrene."

We cancelled the show that night.

Luckily memories are just illusory so there is no longer a worst thing about the Fringe. Yay!

4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

I first came eight years ago but have had the last two summers off. This will be my seventh year of performing.

5 Favourite Fringe venue?

As an audience member, I've always enjoyed being in the Pleasance Upstairs.

To perform, I have always had a soft spot for the Counting House, as we landed a standup showcase there in our first year, at 9.30pm.

Our sketch show was a right old slog to get crowds in, but the free standup showcase in a good location meant we had large crowds every night, which was totally taken for granted at the time!

6 Best Fringe memory?

The last time I was here I did a show called Good Spirits. It focussed on a book called 16 Guidelines To A Happy Life. As part of the opening segment we did some breathing exercises and I recommended people bash their kidneys (either side of the spine, lower back) in order to stimulate their adrenal glands.

Half an hour later, I smashed a self-empowering punchline home and one gentleman spontaneously stood up, punched the air, shouted 'yes!' bent forward and started smacking his kidneys, while whooping.

Afterwards he apologised and said he didn't know what came over him.

Of course, no apology was necessary!

7 Best heckle?

In Good Spirits, one day, about 45 minutes in, one lad erupted into a laughing coughing fit as I was midway through a setup.

"Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yes, sorry," he said, "I've only just realised this isn't a character act."

Could be taken either way that one.

8 Craziest on stage experience?

It would be hosting a chat show in the Gilded Balloon a couple of years ago.

For the final show I had Al Murray as the headline guest. A year prior to this I had been filming the extra features for his DVD, in which I produced a spoof French documentary Alastair Murray: Sous Le Veston [which translates as 'underneath the jacket] that centred around the real Al's turmoil in not receiving recognition for his own being, while people continue to believe the Landlord is real.

The spoof documentary was then shown during our live interview and we pretended it had been done for a French arts TV channel.

I've had 'wilder' experiences on stage, but I think the incredibly niche and somewhat childishly deceptive in joke that was enjoyed in the above tale gets the nod for me.

9 What’s on your rider?

If I were to ever have one, it would include broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, nut, seeds, filtered water and some flowers - to be given out, one-by-one, during the performance.

10 How do you wind down after a show?

I like to talk to/hug the audience after a show has finished. Due to the nature of these shows - ie that people tend to enjoy a euphoric feeling not otherwise obtained in a typical comedy performance - there is usually meaningful contact to be enjoyed.

Then I'll go for a brisk walk, enjoying some filtered water, hemp seeds and dates.

11 What do you love about Scotland?

I utterly adore the scenery and that wild camping is allowed. 

12 What do you like about Edinburgh?

The people, the fact you have a beach, city and a mountain all viewable from the same spot. The Escher-painting style cobbled labyrinth streets.

Prior to committing fully to the vegan lifestyle, I would regularly enjoy yoghurt-coated banana chips from the student shop in the Pleasance Dome. Not so many raisins if I'm honest. Sometimes peanuts. Cranberries? Less so as time went on.

13 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?

I smashed my front two teeth in while drunk once. Other than that, probably a battered Mars Bar.

14 What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?

Anything where I take the mickey out of myself for being English!

Also, as I enjoy a plant-based lifestyle, the higher percentage of meat-eater in the Scottish crowd leaves plenty more room for digestion-metabolism-absorption banter, which is classic every time.

15 Favourite joke?

Anything by Milton Jones. In keeping with the theme of the Miracle show: "So I phoned up the spiritual leader of Tibet, he sent me a large goat with a long neck.

"Turns out I phoned Dial a Lama."

Or the only one of mine that I remember from the one-liner days...

"Embarrassed myself the other night. Turned up to a rave dressed as a semi-detached.

"But it was a warehouse party."

Tommy Holgate: Man In the Middle is on at the Moriarty’s Bar Laughing Horse Free Festival until August 28. For tickets visit www.edfringe.com