Edinburgh, Ep. 12

August 25, 2015 — For the third of eight consecutive LDM's in eight days at the Edinburgh Fringe, Literary Death Match was a cavalcade of wonder from the opening bell, as Viv Groskop outspelled Dave Rudden in a sensational show in the LDM Spelling Bee III to win Groskop the LDM Edinburgh, Ep. 12 crown. 

But before the finale was a consideration, the show opened with Sarah Morgan (comedy writer for The Tracey Ullman Show), who reeled off a roaring piece that deftly paired Garfield the cat with 50 Shades of Grey. Next was Rudden, who read a captivating excerpt from his forthcoming gem Knights of the Borrowed Dark.

The mic was then handed to the trio of all-star judges: Al Murray (The Pub Landlord's Summer Saloon), award-winnning comedian, author of Watching War Films with My Dad; Cariad Lloyd (Cariad & Paul: A Two-Player Adventure), actor, improviser, Fringe Best Newcomer Nominee; and Kyle Kinane (Ghost Pizza Party), comedian behind the DVD special "I Liked His Old Stuff Better." The genius trio heaped endlessly hilarious praise and witticisms on both readers before huddling up and making the late-afternoon's first impossible decision, declaring Rudden as the first finalist. 

Then came Round 2, kicked off by the Groskop (of EdFringe's Say Sorry to the Lady and author of I Laughed, I Cried), who read a magical piece about a boy and girl in Odessa, Ukraine getting tragically romantic. Finally, it was Mitch Benn (of EdFringe's That Was the Future) who read from his latest sci-fi powerhouse, Terra's World, about turning the tables. 

The mic was again handed to the judges, who were endlessly impressed with both writers, cracking so fantastically wise about both authors, before making the night's second impossible choice, deciding to send Groskop on to the finals. 

Then up stepped LDM creator Adrian Todd Zuniga, who announced the night's finale: LDM Spelling Bee III — a game in which Zuniga had Groskop and Rudden spell complicated names of world-famous authors. After Groskop raced off to a quick lead, Rudden's nearly caught up, but Groskop was not to be stopped, as she nailed the final answer, winning her the LDM Edinburgh, Ep. 12 crown, and literary immortality to go with it. 

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