Review: 100% Badgers with Matt Hobs, Fringe 2025

It’s the first 100% sell-out I’ve experienced at the 2025 Fringe. Not just sold out, but oversubscribed, with comedian Matt Hobs having to turn away almost as many people as he squeezed into the basement karaoke room at the City Cafe.

The show is 100% Badgers, and it is, from start to finish, entirely about badgers. If you don’t think you can fill an hour talking about them, you are very, very wrong. Hobs could have gone on for far longer, and the sweltering audience would (probably) have stayed.

A Secret Mission

This is far more than just a slideshow of charismatic creatures. Hobs reveals he has been on a secret mission, becoming part of a dangerous and controversial attempt to vaccinate badgers against bovine TB. This is a world fraught with conflict. To vaccinate a badger, you must first cage it, which puts you at odds with those who cull badgers and, simultaneously, with the activists who smash the cages to free them.

Hobs doesn’t shy away from the grim truths. He notes that the UK has killed nearly half of its badger population without eliminating the disease, yet the animals remain protected. If anything happens to a badger you have legally caged, you are liable. Amongst this serious, high-stakes conservation work, Hobs finds more than enough time and room to fill his show with gags. He even has a pre-written letter ready for you to send to your MP.

Bristol Charm

There’s a genuine authenticity to Hobs. Perhaps it’s a Scottish bias, but I can imagine this man in wellies and a Barbour jacket talking about wildlife, and assume he’s just walked off a farm. He has masses of Bristol charm and an infectious, genuine love for his topic that fills the room. He takes us on a global tour of the 14 (I think) species of badger, from the European variety and its dachshund nemesis to the presidential American badger and the internet-famous honey badger.

You don’t need to be a badger enthusiast to enjoy this show; Hobs’ passion is more than enough to carry you through. His storytelling is gripping, his facts are fascinating, and his punchlines are perfectly timed. This is not a show for kids, but bring a partner, a friend, or just yourself. It’s a wonderful, surprising, and educational hour of comedy.

Overall

A surprisingly gripping and hilarious hour.”

Matt Hobs has created a show with a huge heart. It’s a testament to his skill as a comedian that a show about the politics of badger vaccination can be this engaging and funny. This is a runaway hit for a reason. Recommended, but bring a fan.