Reviewed: 21 May 2026 – The Walrus (Tusk Club), Brighton Fringe
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
I have seen this show twice now, in two different cities, with completely different participants, and both times it was one of the funniest and most genuinely heartwarming shows of the Fringe.
Dating shows are hardly a new concept, but LOLyamorous Speed Dating Comedy Show somehow manages to feel completely original.
Hosted by James Regal, the Barcelona-based comedian behind the concept, the show brings strangers together for live speed dates in front of an audience before inviting comedians, a therapist and the crowd itself to unpack what just happened. It sounds chaotic on paper and, at times, it absolutely is, but that’s exactly what makes it work.
After first seeing LOLyamorous at the Edinburgh Fringe, I caught it again at Brighton Fringe this year. This review is based on the Brighton performance I attended on 21 May at The Walrus (Tusk Club). Different city, different audience, different daters, different guest panellists, and yet somehow the same result. I left with sore cheeks from laughing so hard and found myself far too emotionally invested in the love lives of complete strangers.
Even before the show began, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical Fringe experience. Waiting on every seat was a complimentary full-sized tube of White Glo (@whiteglo_uk) toothpaste, which immediately had the audience looking around and asking the same question: “Why is there toothpaste here?” It was random, slightly bizarre and a perfect introduction to the evening.
The partnership didn’t stop there either. Audience members who volunteered to take part in the speed dating received a White Glo Accelerator Blue Light Whitening Kit, which has an RRP of around £30. A nice bonus for anyone brave enough to put themselves in the spotlight.
And that’s another thing worth mentioning. If you’re reading this and immediately worrying you’re going to be dragged onto a stage against your will, don’t. Nobody is pressured into taking part and nobody is hounded at the door. The show is entirely opt-in, with volunteers choosing to put their names forward, and at the Brighton performance there were plenty of people more than happy to do exactly that.
Walking into the venue, it was immediately obvious this wasn’t going to be one of those half-empty Fringe shows. People were filing in with drinks in hand, couples settling in for date night, and larger groups of friends grabbing seats together. The room already had a buzz about it before the show had even started. In fact, demand was so high that James himself was hunting around for extra chairs and carrying them into the room to squeeze in as many people as possible.
Once volunteers have put their names forward, names are drawn at random from the boxes and matched up on stage for a two-minute speed date in front of the audience. To help keep the conversation flowing, there are optional question cards available ranging from “Deep” to “Spicy”, giving couples the choice between meaningful conversations or slightly more daring questions. Not every pair uses them, and some couples are more than capable of talking without any prompts at all, but they’re a clever addition that helps break the ice and removes some of the awkwardness that naturally comes with meeting a complete stranger in front of a room full of people.
What I love most about LOLyamorous is that it never feels mean. It would be very easy for a show like this to become an exercise in embarrassing people for laughs, but that’s not what happens. The humour comes from awkward moments, unexpected answers, strange dating histories and the sheer unpredictability of human beings. Nobody is treated as the punchline.
In Brighton, James was joined by relationship therapist and love coach Cate MacKenzie (@catemackenzielovecoach), known from Channel 4’s The Undateables, and comedian Iain Anderson (@iainanderson.comedy). Together they struck a really nice balance between humour and genuine insight. Cate often offered thoughtful observations on the dates and the people behind them without ever making things feel too serious, while Iain was responsible for some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
The chemistry between the panel felt completely natural and, rather than sitting in judgement of the daters, they seemed genuinely invested in the conversations unfolding in front of them. After seeing Iain Anderson here, he’s definitely been added to my Edinburgh Fringe watchlist this summer.
One minute you’ll be laughing at a conversation about tomato plants, the next you’ll find yourself rooting for two complete strangers. Some dates were hilariously chaotic. Others were unexpectedly sweet. One couple had the entire room quietly willing them to exchange numbers before the evening was over and from watching them after the show I think they did!!
The strange thing about reviewing LOLyamorous is that I could explain the format from beginning to end and you’d still have no idea what your particular show is going to look like. The people change, the stories change, the chemistry changes, and occasionally the entire audience becomes emotionally invested in whether two strangers who met just two minutes earlier are going to swap numbers by the end of the night.
There are plenty of Fringe shows that will make you laugh. There are fewer that leave you smiling all the way home.
I’ve now seen LOLyamorous twice, once in Edinburgh and once in Brighton, and both times I went on my own. Despite walking into a room full of strangers, I never felt out of place. If anything, that’s part of the charm. Whether you’re single, in a relationship, heading out with friends or turning up solo, everyone seems to get swept up in the same experience.
Both times I left grinning like an idiot.
In fact, I’ll be back again this August and for the first time I won’t be going alone. After spending the last year telling friends how much they would enjoy it, they’re finally coming with me.
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
LOLyamorous Speed Dating Comedy Show
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lolyamorous-a-speed-dating-comedy-show
📍 Main Room at Laughing Horse @ Coco Boho (Venue 303)
📅 6–30 August
🕘 9:00pm
From the LOLyamorous Stage to Edinburgh Fringe
One of the things I love about shows like LOLyamorous is that you often leave with a list of performers you want to see more of. Brighton’s panel introduced me to some brilliant personalities alongside host James Regal, and it left me adding a couple of extra shows to my Edinburgh Fringe plans this summer.
The host behind LOLyamorous is also bringing his own solo show to Edinburgh this August.
James Regal is a People Pleaser
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/james-regal-is-a-people-pleaser
📍 Venue 63 – Nic 5 (Nicolson Square Venues Courtyard) at Hoots @ Nicolson Square
📅 7–31 August 2026
Iain Anderson – Traumedy: A Guide to Being a Fabulous Homeless Addict
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/traumedy-a-guide-to-being-a-fabulous-homeless-addict
After seeing Iain Anderson (@iainanderson.comedy) deliver some of the biggest laughs of the evening in Brighton, he’s firmly on my Edinburgh Fringe watchlist this year, and I’m looking forward to catching his solo show during the festival.
📍 Venue 108 – Hoots 6 at Hoots @ The Apex Grassmarket
📅 7th-31st August 2026
🕘 3.10pm
Funny, inclusive & completely unpredictable, LOLyamorous proves that participation comedy doesn’t have to come at anyone’s expense. It’s one of the most enjoyable and original shows I’ve seen this year and comfortably earns a full five stars from me.
