Paul Hilleard is an upcoming comedian from Pontypridd (“we don’t have mental illness, we have characters”) in the South Welsh Valleys, bringing his show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
In Grogg, he uses the experience of growing up in a deprived area to expand into the discussion of screaming, bus drivers, squirrels, therapy, hot food, renting, and the generation gap.
Very dour and very funny, Hilleard mines the recesses of life’s odd coincidences and observations. Pigeons, fruit and veg sellers, guide dogs, God, and more are in his sights at the top of the set.
He can be gross, on the nose, and very considered. In Grogg he reaches into the little problems we have all dealt with, and whether scratch cards are the new religion (“hope its a winner, dad”).
The recording I am watching is more 40 than 60 minutes, so it is a short and compact set, but it is clear that this comedian has his style already worked out and his set, worked around the concept of ‘hope’ in all its forms, is honed to full clarity.
This is Hilleard’s comedy debut at Fringe, playing at Monkey Barrel’s Studio after gathering awards for BBC New Comedian of the Year 2024 and Chortle Hotshots 2026 debut.
Observational without being too personal, he picks on current cultural references (Brand, Epstein) without following the obvious routes. His memories of his dad head into the detritus of daytime TV; a tale of his ex takes a segue into something far more mundane.
He isn’t the type to pick out audience members, but they are hugely appreciative, and rightly so. The title, Grogg, by the way, refers to a clay caricature figure made by a factory in Pontypridd.
4 stars.
Paul Hilleard: Grogg was part of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
I am reviewing the show from a recording supplied by Paul’s PR.