Dame Edna Everage makes Edinburgh visit

SHOWBIZ royalty swept into Scotland’s capital - and it was unable to resist some cutting digs at the city council.

Dame Edna Everage dropped into the offices of The Scotsman and the Festival Theatre during a whirlwind visit to help promote her “farewell” appearances later this year.

It will bring to an end a stage and screen phenomenon first unveiled by Australian entertainer Barry Humphries in 1955.

Dame Edna also ventured into Scotland’s big political debate by backing the SNP’s independence cause - as long as the country then united with New Zealand.

The star’s last appearance in Edinburgh had been before the Queen 10 years ago when she appeared at the first Royal Variety Performance to be held in Scotland.

She said: “Edinburgh’s not just a city, it’s a treasure. It was one of those beautiful cities spared the bombing in the second world war. The only damage it sustained was at the hands of your council.

“The trams don’t ruin the buildings in Edinburgh, the streets perhaps. We have them in Melbourne, but the difference is they actually work there.”

Dame Edna said Scotland had a natural affinity with New Zealand which justified a breakaway from England.

She said: “New Zealand is very Scottish. It’s full of lovely churches, it’s full of a lot of red-haired people and the word wee is used a lot. There are a lot of similarities.”

Dame Edna will return to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from November 5-9, with the show Eat Pray Laugh, which will feature other Humphries alter-egos Sir Les Patterson and and Sandy Stone.

She added: “I’m trying not to be too emotional. This is my farewell. I’ve had such a wonderful life.

“There are times, we all know and we’re not going to mention the names of the artistes, but you see people still performing and you think ‘why didn’t they stop long long ago.’ I wanted to say farewell at the height of my powers.”