Most comedians, when writing a show to perform all month long at the Fringe in Edinburgh, probably wouldn't class the recent death of their brother as a rich source of laughs.

Not so Ed Byrne.

In Tragedy Plus Time he looks at the Mark Twain attributed quote that a specific amount of days, weeks, months or even years must pass before a tragic event can become funny.

The theory goes that the more horrific, the longer it takes.

As an example, while he was a furious victim of environmentally friendly thieves in a posh part of London – spoiler alert it’s ‘where Dara stays’ – he says he was joking on stage about it 24 hours later.

As for the death of his little brother Paul last year, at the age of 44, it's clear that a good bit more time had to pass.

But the result is a brilliantly funny show.

Dunfermline Press: Ed Byrne will also bring his Tragedy Plus Time show to Dunfermline in November.Ed Byrne will also bring his Tragedy Plus Time show to Dunfermline in November. (Image: Roslyn Gault)

I wondered how he could possibly make such a personal and painful subject matter a source of entertainment, but Ed managed it easily.

And it’s not done in a cruel way. There’s pitch black humour there, sure, but it’s not macabre or ‘shock jock’ stuff to provoke outrage or grab a headline.

He’s way too smart and decent for that, even if he does like an argument, slagging off James Corden and pointing out just how many "f***** morons" there are in the world.

It’s not uncaring and as an audience you don't feel guilty for laughing, that's the aim after all.

The examination of grief, regret, love and illness is real and genuine, this did happen, and at one point during the show his voice does catch, raw emotions almost rises to the surface.

This was the most traumatic event of his life – it was no picnic for Paul either – and he somehow makes it very funny.

And then explains how he made that experience of his brother’s dying day even worse!

But it’s the absurdity and funny moments from the darkest of times – such as the song he wanted at his funeral – that actually makes this show so life affirming.

As another saying goes, the only certainties are death and taxes so, as the comedian said in an interview in the Press last week, "the best thing to do is laugh at it”.

At this point I'll admit this is not a completely unbiased review as Ed and I go way back.

At the very beginnings of his career, he compèred a sort of 'Blind Date' event at Stirling University.

A mate of mine had organised it and in our flat beforehand I asked Ed if he wanted a beer and he said ‘Thanks, I’ve already got one’.

I’ve not seen him since but 30 years on I’m sure the memory of that sparkling exchange has stayed with him too.

While the Blind Date event wasn’t very good, all anyone could talk about afterwards was how funny Ed Byrne was.

And he still is.

So go and see the show. You'll enjoy it, that won't be a problem.

Ed Byrne is at the Assembly Rooms on George Street from August 10 to 13 and 15 to 27. 

AMc