Latest news with #Spittle
The Herald Scotland
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Here are the best 10 shows I've seen at the Edinburgh festival so far
Vittorio Angelone: you can't Say Nothing any more Monkey Barrel 1, 7.35pm, until August 24 Nice to be proven right for once. A couple of weeks back I namechecked Angelone as one to catch at the Fringe in these very pages. I took my own advice and was rewarded. Easily the best thing I've seen at the Fringe so far. There's a delight in seeing a young comedian at the top of his game totally in command of his material and the audience. Half-Irish, half-Italian (and soon to be seen on Richard Osman's House of Games), Angelone's stand-up is playful, provocative (though not in a creepy edgelord way) and challenging. He's also just really funny. Plus, he throws in a three-piece Irish band pre-gig for added value. NB, his Monkey Barrel run is pretty much sold out but he's also appearing at the Underbelly, Bristo Square on August 22 at 11pm. Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America Beyond at Pleasance Courtyard, 9.30pm, until August 24 The star of Two Doors Down is exploring his own obsession with America in this show full of nailed-on impersonations, personal memories and sharply sketched satire. It's about the push and pull of the United States politically and culturally and, yes, the current incumbent of the White House does feature. 'The central quest of the show is to make a show that he isn't in,' Hodgson admitted to me when we talked last weekend, 'and this quest ends in defeat.' It does, though, provide for a chilling climax to a comically inventive and energetic show. Alison Spittle: BIG Monkey Barrel 1, 4.45pm, until August 24 Comedian Alison Spittle (Image: unknown) The Irish comedian's new show BIG takes in septicemia, Shrek and skiing, but at heart it's a show about weight-loss and body-shaming. Spittle is an articulate, at times even angry guide to the subject. All of which brings a real energy to this show to add to Spittle's natural comic timing and way with an anecdote. There's a dark heart to BIG, but Spittle herself is all light. Joe Tracini: 10 Things I Hate About Me Underbelly, Bristo Square, 8.25pm, until August 24 Comedian and actor Joe Tracini has Borderline Personality Disorder. In this show he explains what that means in eye-opening detail. This is a busy show. Tracini's word count is probably double everyone else's on the Fringe, given how quickly he talks. Then again, he has a lot to get across. We are talking mental illness, drug addiction and suicidal ideation. But also Hollyoaks, pantos and talking to Lorraine Kelly. This is a show that is full of difficult material and yet it's also truly joyous. Tracini, son of Joe Pasquale, has been trying to do this show for five years. It has been well worth the wait. This is a great Fringe debut. Do You Accept These Charges? Pleasance Courtyard, 3.10pm, until August 24 This one-woman play by American writer and performer Laurie Magers is not for all the family. It explores her 'love addiction' for an incarcerated felon and the extreme ends she went to in order to feed that addiction. At times that can be shocking (especially when she's miming phone sex in what is, after all, a pretty small venue). But this autobiographical show is clever, brisk and unblinking. Mike Nelson: Humpty Dumpty Fruitmarket Gallery, until October 10 Out of Chaos:Postwar Scottish Art, 1945-2000 City Art Centre, until October 12 Mike Nelson. Humpty Dumpty (Image: Mike Nelson) Even the best of us can wilt at the Fringe and need a retreat. If that's you there are a couple of art shows that might offer some solace while you gear up for another night of comedy and theatre. In the Fruitmarket Gallery Mike Nelson's Humpty Dumpty is a mixture of photographic works from London and Turkey - which are fine - and a truly astonishing, even jaw-dropping installation in the gallery's Warehouse. He has effectively built a decaying house inside the space. There's an old racing calendar on the wall, broken tiles, torn-up carpet underlay (but no carpets), wires and machinery and discarded chairs and garden spaces full of rubble. The man hours that went into making it must have been huge. It was worth every one of them. It left me giddy. Just across the road in the City Art Centre there's a huge John Bellany exhibition. But if that's too much of a commitment the supplementary exhibition Out of Chaos, which charts postwar Scottish art through Edinburgh's art collection is a thrilling show featuring all the big names from Joan Eardley to Eduardo Paolozzi (I think the only obvious missing name was maybe Steven Campbell). It's a wide-ranging show full of small treasures and big statements. Jock McFadyen's Great Junction Street - an urban landscape featuring Leith's Mecca Bingo Hall - looks pretty great in this context. Christopher McArthur-Boyd: Howling at the Moon Monkey Barrel 1, 9pm, until August 24 I caught Macarthur-Boyd on a bad night. He had to deal with a persistent talker all the way through the show which threw him a little. He messed up the order of the show and admitted he'd missed bits out. None of which mattered. The show was still great. An hour full of strong material really well delivered. Alongside Susie McCabe and Connor Burns, he's proof that Scottish comic voices are loud and proud at this year's Fringe. Rob Auton: CAN (An Hour-Long Story) Assembly Roxy, 1.25pm, until August 24 To attend a Rob Auton show to is effectively enter Autonworld; a curious, off-kilter place with a Yorkshire accent. CAN is the story of a motivational speaker who manages to motivate the world. Auton then explores the consequences. It's a thought experiment with really good jokes (I'm desperate to tell you the one about AI, but I don't want to spoil it for you). The result is strange and silly and, actually, rather moving. In its own way it's also pretty motivating. The Burns Project The Georgian House, 6.30pm, until August 16 James Clements (Image: James Clements) Staged in the swish surroundings of the Georgian House in Charlotte Square, this immersive theatrical performance (staged around a long table with the audience ranged along both sides) sees James Clements play Robert Burns in a brisk, thoughtful telling of his life story, supported by musician/performer Lisa Rigby. Directed by Cora Bissett, it's an attempt to get beyond the shortbread tin image of the Bard and find the human being behind the legend. The result is an immaculately designed, smartly staged piece that offers up a portrait of a complex, at times, flawed man. Big Brain Tumour Benefit Underbelly Bristo Square, August 13 I've heard good things about Josie Long's new show Now is the Time of Monsters, Benji Waterhouse's show Maddening is good and comedians Tiff Stevenson and Tom Rosenthal have solid Fringe shows on offer, but this, the Underbelly's seventh annual brain tumour benefit should be worth your time. And not just for the cause. The bill includes Michelle Wolf, Ivo Graham, David O'Doherty, Abandoman and Emmanuel Sonubi. To purchase tickets for the festival, please click here
RTÉ News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Alison Spittle: "Weight has been a constant war in my life"
Comedian Alison Spittle joined Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 to discuss her new show, Big, which she is bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Dublin Fringe Festival. Based on her weight loss journey using prescription injections, the show explores her relationship with her body going back to childhood and how she navigates people's reactions to her weight now. "I was going to call it Fat B***h, that's what I was going to call it," she says, clearly thrilled to be cursing on Radio 1. "But, unfortunately, you couldn't put it on a poster." "It's about being a fat b***h, basically, Brendan," she continues, dryly. "Last year, I got into some health difficulties, and I believe that's known as f-ing around and finding out stage of my life." On the advice of doctors, Spittle tried to lose weight the "normal way" but struggled to get the results she needed. Eventually, she decided to try weight-loss injections, an experience that inspired much of her new show. "The best thing about losing weight is now I can catch buses," she deadpans. "Before, buses weren't for me. I was manifesting. I was like, what's meant for me won't pass me." "The worst about losing weight," she adds, "is that people treat me nicer." Going back to the beginning, Brendan asked Alison about her relationship with her body. "I've been fat since I was eight years old," she says, explaining that a lifetime of comments about her weight never once inspired her to become thinner. When told she would have to lose weight to make it in comedy, for example, she became all the more determined to succeed exactly as she was. When it came to critical comments and verbal abuse, for the most part, the comic found that she could see that the issue fell with others rather than herself. "If a fella comes up to you in Temple Bar and calls you a fat b***h, he's not doing it out of concern for your health," she says. Growing up during the Celtic Tiger years, Spittle says that women were constantly being valued on their appearance, whether it be an actress on TV, or an Irish model being photographed walking around town in a bikini. "I felt by staying fat, I was rebelling against that culture," she muses. "When I wanted to change its because I was unwell and I was scared. And then I realised I couldn't change. Like, that was scary." Spittle says that her health complications forced her to face her addictive behaviours towards food: "I barely ate because I was hungry, it was always around emotion." Bed-bound for two weeks, the comic says she "nearly died" during the health scare that led her to research weight loss drugs. Unfortunately, the process wasn't easy, with one doctor telling her that he didn't want her to have "an easy out". "What does that mean? It means that they don't want a fat person to have it any easier to lose weight. That's associated with punishment," she states. Eventually, Spittle was given a prescription for Mounjaro, which almost immediately took away the gratification she usually found from eating. "It's taken the joy out of eating for me, definitely, but that's grand," she says, acknowledging that although the "dopamine" is gone, the reasons why she became addicted to food have yet to be dealt with. Still in the early days of so much change, she says that coping with how people react to her can be challenging, and getting to know her new body and lifestyle is changing all the time. One thing she is clear on? No matter her weight, she never waited for life to begin. Some of her happiest days and most impressive accomplishments happened before weight loss, and she doesn't want to put down that past version of herself.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Middleby's Q1 Earnings Call
Middleby's first quarter saw a positive market reaction despite revenue coming in below Wall Street's expectations. Management attributed the results to strong cash flow, disciplined cost control, and margin stability, with CEO Timothy FitzGerald emphasizing the company's ability to maintain 'robust cash flows and driven margin performance' even in a challenging market. While food processing experienced revenue declines due to customer-driven delays, the residential segment benefited from growth in outdoor products. Commercial foodservice margins expanded as cost actions and favorable product mix offset muted buying from large chain customers. Is now the time to buy MIDD? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $906.6 million vs analyst estimates of $941.7 million (2.2% year-on-year decline, 3.7% miss) Adjusted EPS: $2.08 vs analyst estimates of $1.97 (5.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $182.1 million vs analyst estimates of $185.7 million (20.1% margin, 1.9% miss) Operating Margin: 15.5%, in line with the same quarter last year Organic Revenue fell 3.8% year on year (-8.7% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $8.03 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Walt Liptak (Seaport) asked about the segment outlook and where the biggest changes in 2025 would occur; CFO Bryan Mittelman highlighted that commercial segment performance will drive the overall results, with muted growth due to macro uncertainty and customer investment delays. Jeff Hammond (KeyBanc) inquired about the rationale behind prioritizing the share buyback program; CEO Timothy FitzGerald detailed that strong cash flow, balance sheet strength, and limited M&A opportunities outside food processing made buybacks the most attractive use of capital. Mircea Dobre (Baird) pressed for detail on the timeline and allocation of tariff costs by segment; Chief Commercial Officer Steve Spittle explained the majority of the impact would hit commercial and residential, with mitigation efforts relying on pricing and operational improvements. Tim Thein (Raymond James) questioned the sustainability of margin improvements from favorable product mix and the geographic distribution of new store openings; Mittelman and Spittle noted positive near-term mix effects and a growing international share of new business, especially in Europe, India, and Brazil. Brian McNamara (Canaccord Genuity) sought specifics on competitive pricing in response to tariffs and updates on Open Kitchen adoption; Spittle said Middleby's planned price increases are below most competitors, and James Pool (CTO) emphasized strong pipeline momentum for Open Kitchen and several new product rollouts. In the quarters ahead, our analysts will monitor (1) Middleby's ability to implement price increases and offset tariff costs without sacrificing customer demand, (2) progress on the food processing spin-off, including leadership appointments and detailed financial disclosures, and (3) adoption rates for new digital kitchen and automation products. Additional attention will be paid to supply chain execution and the evolving competitive landscape in commercial foodservice and residential categories. Middleby currently trades at $150.25, up from $135.38 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Scotsman
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Alison Spittle brings new solo show 'Big' to Edinburgh Fringe
Irish comedian and writer Alison Spittle is set to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with her brand-new solo show 'Big', running at Monkey Barrel 1 from the 29th of July to the 24th of August. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Known for her work on stage, screen and radio, Spittle's latest hour takes a bold and candid look at body image, self-worth and identity, drawing on a turbulent and transformative year in her life. After a chance encounter on a train triggered a serious health scare, Spittle began an unexpected weight-loss journey—now the subject of this heartfelt and hilarious new show. Big explores what happens when the world treats you differently because of your body, and whether changing yourself can ever really be the answer. Spittle reflects on her experiences as a working-class fat girl trying to fit into a middle-class, mid-sized world. With her trademark mix of honesty and humour, she asks how much of ourselves we're willing to lose in order to feel accepted—and whether it's possible to love who you were as much as who you're becoming. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Audiences can expect sharp, relatable storytelling as Spittle navigates everything from missing trains to fitting on rollercoasters, alongside moments of emotional insight drawn from a year that changed everything. Alison Spittle (c) Matt Stronge A familiar face from Pointless Celebrities, Richard Osman's House of Games, and Celebrity Gogglebox, Alison is also the co-creator of the popular BBC Sounds podcast Wheel of Misfortune, and has written and starred in her own sitcom Nowhere Fast. Big marks her highly anticipated return to the Fringe following two successful back-to-back runs with her previous shows Wet and Soup. Alison Spittle: Big runs at Monkey Barrel 1 from 29th July to 24th August (not 12th) at 4.45pm.
