Comedy can be a savage beast, so you need a forgiving crowd.

Pick Of The Fringe nights run throughout the Fringe, mustering together a mixed bag of established stand-ups trying stuff out and new acts pinning their hopes on a few laughs.

While some inevitably miss the mark or simply die on their feet, others are worth a second look.

From a bill of six on Wednesday, first up was “Carlos Cojones” test-running his show impersonating a Columbian visiting the UK. Better known as Lenny Peters, he is no stranger to Brighton Fringe, having performed last year. The result this time wasn't too shabby and I imagine it'll tighten up more so during a four-night free-entry run at The Temple (May 23-26), if he can ditch his notes.

The compere was Paul Revill, a Bedford-based comic who has been doing the circuit and performed dutifully to weld together each segment of the evening.

Revill might have caused trepidation to creep over the crowd when he announced the main support: "Let's give him some big love - it's his second ever gig."

What are you going to get?

The answer was Scott Gosling, a local lad new to the comedy scene.

We needn't have worried; his manner was leisurely and his jokes, while smutty and stilted in places, had a good tempo to them. He raised the biggest laugh of the night when someone walked into the room at the wrong time following a coarse punchline. One to watch, I was pleasantly surprised.

Ellie Taylor headlined with a set of sublimely wrought yet random oddments, stitched together with a boisterous jealousy for smug married couples and girls shorter or posher than her. All in jest, it was a riveting set full of expression, silly voices and vocal theatrics. Taylor performed a sold-out show at the Caroline Of Brunswick the following night (May 22) and it's not hard to see why.

There is a pick-and-mix feel to these line-ups but for every stinker there’s also a stormer and that’s what it’s all about.

Pick Of The Fringe shows run every day until June 1 and admission ranges from £4 to £7