Gail Porter says she will not be able to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year because it is too expensive.
The TV host and actress, 53, has performed several sold-out comedy shows at the festival in her hometown in the past, but this year she says she has been sold out.
Venues can cost up to £10,000 a week and artists must also find money for fringe entry fees, ticket commission, marketing and advertising, equipment hire and transport, public liability insurance and accommodation for themselves.
It is estimated that the total costs of a theater show in a venue that seats 150 people could be £25,000 for 23 performances, while a comedy show in a venue that seats 30 people for 23 performances in the afternoon may be £2000.
Gail took to Instagram to share a photo of herself in the Scottish city and wrote: ‘Edinburgh… you’ve priced me out of the market. I can’t afford to do a concert at the festival.
Gail Porter says she can’t perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year because it’s too expensive (pictured in the city)
The TV presenter, 53, has performed several sold-out comedy shows at the festival in her hometown in the past, but this year she says she has sold out.
‘All these lovely, hopeful new humans who want to act, make you think, smile, cry, laugh… they can’t afford to stay in my hometown.
‘I am so incredibly devastated. Greed is never pleasant.
She added on Twitter: ‘I was so excited to go to @edfringe this year. But the rising costs of B&Bs have priced me out. My hometown.
‘I feel very sorry for the new young artists who will not be able to afford accommodation.
“I am disappointed that Edinburgh has done this. The greed is horrible.
A response from the festival’s official Twitter account read: “I totally understand your frustration, Gail – please know that we are doing everything we can to find solutions, whether through discussions with the government or negotiating affordable options for artists.”
Gail responded: ‘Thank you for your response. I’m sorry for so many people I know who don’t come to my house. Really annoying x x.’
MailOnline has contacted festival bosses for comment.
Gail wrote on social media: ‘Edinburgh… you have priced me out of the market. I can’t afford to do a concert at the festival.’
Gail’s followers took to the comments section to sympathize with the star.
One person wrote: ‘Oh that’s hell Gail. Although I know exactly what you’re saying. It’s off scale.’
While someone else shared: ‘Yes. I didn’t even have the opportunity to be able to afford accommodation there this year.
Another follower posted: ‘First time in 15 years we won’t be coming this year. I have always been able to make sacrifices to ensure that we could come and enjoy the festival, but this year the accommodation prices are crazy and if we keep paying these prices they will continue to go up. We are gutted.
‘Crazy prices. I haven’t climbed since 2019 and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do a full race again,” commented another of Gail’s fans.
Another Gail Porter devotee shared: ‘Artists need to organize a boycott for something to change. But of course that won’t happen and punters and artists will continue to get ripped off.’
Gail’s followers took to the comments section to sympathize with the star.
And someone else commented: ‘Ticket prices have gone up, but pay for events has stayed pretty much the same for 25 or 30 years (and all the associated costs, i.e. fuel and car insurance, have grown exponentially) . Also, every year the Edinburgh Fringe, but that’s also prohibitively expensive.
Another person wrote: ‘Will there be exceptions for artists performing at the Edinburgh Fringe? Apart from established and well-known artists, it is becoming more and more expensive. and unaffordable for emerging and lesser-known artists. Which goes against the spirit of the original Fringe.
And someone else posted: ‘I have a crazy fantasy about doing a live cartoon show at the Edinburgh Fringe one day, but yeah. I think for a lot of artists it’s like a very expensive hobby that we try to justify as an investment because once in a while it works for someone.’
This year’s festival will take place between Friday, August 2 and Monday, August 26.