Jayde Adams has just been announced as one of the contestants on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. And by a neat coincidence her new Edinburgh show includes a piece of interpretative movement. It is unlikely to be included on the primetime show though. Unless there is a late night uncensored version. It is crude, full-on and very funny.
It comes towards the end of Men, I Can Save You in which Adams reflects on how her philosophy has changed recently. Inevitably there is a plethora of lockdown humour at the Fringe this year, but Adams has a particularly distinctive take on this unique period in our history.
The Bristolian comedian found herself living with two men, her boyfriend and his hairdresser mate Steve. At least Adams was able to dampen down her partner’s sexual ardour by altering her hairstyle. She went from platinum blonde bombshell to Bowie orange with a man-repelling mullet.
Things eventually changed more drastically though. Firstly Adele went on a diet which meant that superfan Adams was furious could no longer boast that they looked alike. And even more dramatically, Adams split with her partner. She has spent the last few months reassessing her life and shares self-help tips.
Adams comes into her own though when she tells a gossipy story. There is a saucy titbit about a celebrity fling with a few hints if you want to get googling, and does such a convincing impression of fellow comic Sophie Willan, with whom she appears in the sitcom Alma’s Not Normal, that there is no need to name her.
Another highlight is a very relatable section about getting getting her sex education from US teen dramas. The show alights on numerous themes, from masculinity to body positivity to the difficulty of leaving Whatsapp groups and is always entertaining without ever quite settling on one topic.
What binds everything together is the sheer force of Adams‘ personality. She is a born performer who can switch from heartfelt sentimentality to physical slapstick at will. One candid moment will bring a tear to your eye, while her stand-out clownish mime will have you laughing your boots off.
The show is a little underwritten in places, maybe due to filming the upcoming Take That movie Greatest Days and some early Strictly commitments, which already mean that the London transfer of this show has just been moved to 2023. But Adams is such a natural star she can paper over any cracks. It will be a long wait to see her at the Hackney Empire, but it will be worth it. It could even turn out to be a Strictly victory parade.
