Ted Milligan is a stand-up, sketch and character comedian, and a  queer football fan who has quickly made a name for himself as one of the most exciting new faces on the UK comedy scene. Ted has already been heard on ‘BBC Two’s Festival of Funny’ and written for BBC Radio 4’s Newsjack and Dead Ringers. He has been featured in Telegraph’s Top Jokes from Edinburgh Fringe 2023 and LMAOnaise’s 30 comedians you should be watching.

Ted brings his ambitious footie-themed character comedy debut ‘United’ to the Fringe this August. We spoke to him about the show, his masochistic love of Plymouth Argyle, and having to ‘eel’ when he’d rather ‘starfish’.

Can you tell us about ‘United’?

‘United’ is a comedy about a disastrous football club that is purchased by a six-year-old billionaire. It’s a live mockumentary and I play a lot of characters, some would argue too many. It’s very funny and it’s really about the joys of football, community, and UK towns. You really don’t need to know anything about football to enjoy it as there are loads of sketches and jokes that happen in and around the town itself (but if you are a big footy fan, feel free to stick around afterwards and we can chat about Jussi Jääskeläinen).

For those unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your comedy style and approach to performance?

Truth be told I’m very bad at being self-reflective in a positive way but here are some quotes that have described me which give a sense (my director has told me to only use positive ones and not my favourite of a gig I bombed: ‘Messy self-destruction’): ‘His performance has the audience hooked,’ (Chortle), ‘Exceptionally well-written,’ (Intermission), ‘Properly, effortlessly hilarious’. (EdFringe Review). Basically, it’s high-energy, narrative driven, and full of jokes.

The show is partly inspired by your travels and travails as a Plymouth Argyle fan. What is it that keeps you in the stands, particularly during a season as disastrous as the last one?

Ugh don’t get me started on 2024/25. Oh well you have now, what a tragedy. We basically shot ourselves in the foot multiple times, I loved Rooney but it all kinda went wrong under him and either we should have got rid of him sooner or given him January. Also, Muslic was a bit overhyped by the media during his tenure. Yeah we got a few good marquée wins like Liverpool and Sheffield United, but really we still lost points in the games that mattered (Derby, Cardiff, Luton) and we never played very good football, relying on the pace of Hardie and Bundu to bail us out.

Anyway to answer your question, because I love having something I’m this passionate about that I can’t control in any way. And the beer’s good too. Football is a great way to see the country, meet different people and have a completely irrational hatred of the town of Burton because they equalised with us in the 97th minute in 2022.

‘United,’ is your debut Edinburgh show. What are your hopes and expectations for the month? 

If I may be earnest (bleugh), I really just hope to not fall out with anyone and to keep perspective. It’s very easy to get very caught up in your own world when things don’t quite go to plan and I am Mr. ‘messy self-destruction’. I want to be someone that my mates can rely on to be good chat and comfort them. I would love the show to be seen by more people than have currently bought tickets too. Also I would love Argyle to get a good start to the season or I may become very difficult to Fringe with.

Apart from your show, is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to (or dreading) about the Fringe?

Quite a lot I’m dreading but I’m very much looking forward to the mattress topper I purchased from Dunelm. It’s got very good reviews and everyone who has stayed in the accommodation I am about to stay in this year has said it’s a very sensible investment! It’s a single bed which I’m not over the moon about because I like to starfish but maybe for a month I’ll just eel.

Beside ‘United’, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?

Me and my sketch partner James Trickey are doing a one-off performance of our sketch double act ‘Burger and a Pint’ on 16th August, 16.15, Pleasance Courtyard Cellar. I’m doing a few spots here and there, like Chortle’s ‘Fast Fringe‘, but honestly if you want to see Ted Milligan at the fringe then I’d highly recommend ‘United’, which I will be in, nightly at 9.45pm in Bunker 3 at Pleasance Courtyard.

Are there any other acts at the Fringe that you would recommend audiences see?

So many and I will forget so many GOATS but James Trickey, Sam Williams, Matthew Hayhurst, Amelia Hamilton, Jessie Nixon, Sharon Wanjohi, Ada and Bron, and Rohan Sharma are all doing their debuts this year and rock so hard.

Kathy Maniura, Andrew Doherty, and Lorna Rose Treen are great character acts that I just love so so much. Alex Kitson, Andrew White, and Burt Williamson are never in doubters for just consistent laughs.

Then if we’re talking big ‘uns we gotta be seeing Dan Tiernan, Kieran Hodgson, Olga Koch, and Lou Wall. Dan Bishop’s play ‘Brainsluts‘ is gonna be great too.

Now that makes a spicy meatball. Have just realised I clash with 50% of the acts above so go watch them for me, and then come to my show the next night, and tell me how good they were and how grateful you were for the great recommendation!

‘United‘ is at Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Three from Wed 30 Jul to Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 21:45