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Everyone always asks, what's the best way of choosing a show on the big, old rambling Edinburgh Fringe.

My usual tips - word of mouth, plus the advice of tried and tested reviewers - didn't seem to apply to me as I skimmed through the telephone directory that now passes for the Fringe programme.

All of the shows on my carefully compiled list (scribbled note on the back of an old programme) began before 6pm.

The next three suggestions began just before midnight - far too late for this early in the Fringe.

I considered walking the Royal Mile where amidst the amateur choirs, college Shakespeare and improv comedy, you can sometimes spot a gem.

And then I narrowed it down to two - an intimate drama in a small, sweaty space or a stand up comic.

Now stand up comedy is usually the last resort of the unimaginative.

But in this case, it was an excellent choice.

London comedian Josie Long, just 26, is a winner of the Best Newcomer category at the If.comedy awards.

Charming and whimsical, she's giving out hand-made programmes in the aisles when we come in, and insists on starting the show again for some latecomers (etiquette, Pleasance people, why are you letting customers in a whole 10 minutes after the show has started!).

It also contains one of the corniest but cutest jokes about philosophy I've heard.

Josie wants to build up an anthropological collection while she's here in Edinburgh - and she's appealing to her audience to bring her carefully labelled artefacts.

Maybe the comedy awards jury will be able to oblige - with another award for her collection.