He is the “Sunbed Socialist” whose political career collapsed after his salacious libel battle against the News of the World last summer.

But Tommy Sheridan, who won £200,000 in damages after a jury chose not to believe allegations that he visited swingers’ clubs and participated in orgies, is now facing more bad reviews.

The former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party was panned after attempting to reinvent himself as a chat show host on the Edinburgh Fringe.

Yesterday The Sunday Times in Scotland called his show “truly horrible . . . the stuff that people dream about in the moments before they wake up screaming uncontrollably”. In a city where Neil and Christine Hamilton already have their own Fringe show, the former MSP – he lost his seat in May’s elections to the Scottish Parliament – has been shown no mercy.

“Tommy Sheridan is many things: a consummate politician, kick-ass lawyer and, some say, man of the people,” said The Scotsman. “One thing he isn’t is a talented stand-up comic.”

On the night that The Times visited, many of the audience confessed to being fans. Grant Chambers, 38, said: “He was a bit hammy when he did the stand up, but when he got into it he was better than some other stuff I’ve seen. I’m far from a natural supporter of his but he’s got a bit of charisma and it’s always entertaining listening to him talk his rubbish.”