Once upon a time it was a faux pas to wear socks with shorts (except, of course, for those participating in a sporting fixture). Will Owen dresses in his own way, with a shirt and tie and yep, shorts and socks – the look just made me think, “okay, you do you”. And anyway, there are plenty of infinitely more bizarre outfits donned by performers at the Edinburgh Fringe. Earlier during Fringe 2025 I encountered a comedian who quipped that people who phone or text into a radio show ought to go on a register. Having heard Owen’s account of contacting a show on BBC Radio 2, the weirdness that other comedian identified in such phone-ins is not, it transpires, entirely the fault of the callers.
Owen wanted a particular song played, dedicated to his mother, only to be told by the production team that because the song in question had already been played on the show, he would need to request a different song instead. They even told him which song he was to request, although he was still permitted to dedicate it to his mother. But the replacement song was not one that had any meaning or resonance for either Owen or his mother. He capitulated, which was something of an anti-climactic conclusion to that story, but it was indicative of an eager to please personality.
His naturally camp nature meant his coming out was a total shock to absolutely nobody who knew him. The show’s title is an aspiration, it turns out (he’s still in his twenties). There was a long story about a lover from Kilkenny – I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to reveal that things didn’t work out in the end between him and the London-based Owen. Recollections of his dating experiences, however, are probably relatable to those who use dating apps themselves.
The trouble, at least for me, was that it was difficult to be invested in this collection of stories. It didn’t really say anything that hasn’t been said before – the BBC has ways of pursuing their agenda, to the detriment of all others, including (perhaps especially) their own listeners, and of course there’s going to be a culture clash of sorts with an exchange student from the continent. That said, Owen establishes and maintains a good, positive rapport with his audience.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Looking Fab at Fifty is packed with sharply observed gags, painfully specific anecdotes, and the kind of blisteringly funny self-reflection that catches you off guard and feels almost too honest to laugh at – until you do, wholeheartedly. Owen’s style blends whip-smart observations and slyly confessional storytelling, with a knack for turning his most embarrassing moments into perfectly crafted punchlines.
WILL OWEN: LOOKING FAB AT FIFTY
Assembly Roxy at the Edinburgh Fringe
30 July to 24 August 2025
