David Davis and Alex Salmond make a surprising double-act as former FM's Fringe run begins

Only a little unhinged, and in the best way possible, the former First Minister, MP and MSP is doing what he excels at: recasting what may look like a setback as a spur to the future — and having plenty of fun while doing so. Dislodged from his Gordon seat at June’s General Election by Tory Colin Clark, Salmond is free from the discipline of party politics for these shows.

From the get-go, it’s clear he’s in his element. As a staff member later quips to a woman in the queue for Salmond to sign The Dream Will Never Die, his memoir of the campaign in the run-up to the 2014 referendum, “he loves the attention.”

But what his detractors often describe as arrogance is nothing of the sort. In that signing session, he took time to exchange a few words with each person with a sincerity that cannot be faked. And here, on stage, there’s plenty of self-deprecation among the barbs directed at others. These are always cheeky rather than cruel – even when the subject is Ruth Davidson – and while a lesser man may have used the opportunity for some rabble rousing and cheap shots (let’s face it, with this Cabinet there are plenty of easy targets) the atmosphere here is one of good cheer, boyish charm and the occasional spot of sauciness. This is, after all, the man once photographed feeding a Solero to a young supporter in a picture that still causes salacious mirth years on.

With Salmond as ringmaster, there was not a single dull moment here, with a house band who perfectly complemented his casual, assured tone, a slot from Glasgow stand-up and expert Trump botherer Janey Godley and a high-profile guest.

Each show’s guest is not revealed until they actually appear in front of the audience, and few could have been expecting yesterday's. Moments after describing Scotland being taken out the EU as “ridiculous” and “nonsensical”, Salmond welcomed David Davis to the stage. That’s David Davis, the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. A few folk around me gasped their surprise.

They needn’t have been concerned; not in terms of entertainment, certainly. Described by Salmond as “the acceptable face of Brexit – or certainly the one who knows what he’s talking about”, Davis was personable, humorous and generous.

It’s certainly difficult to imagine any other member of the Cabinet sitting with Salmond while being ribbed about Michael Gove or his boss, the PM. Still, with Davis currently the frontrunner for the Tory leadership, perhaps he won’t have a boss for much longer. And while showing himself as a sport, there were a couple of more serious points made, such as his intention that the “Brexit process be driven by practicality, not ideology.”

On reflection, perhaps the choice of the “Brexit bulldog” wasn’t so outlandish. Last summer, Salmond supported Davis’s intention to table a motion alleging Tony Blair deceived the Commons while making the case for the Iraq war. That had to be dropped as a condition of him taking on the Brexit minister job, Davis said.

It sets a high precedent for successive guests on the show, as did the performance as a whole. A treat for anyone, no matter their political persuasion.

Until August 27, 1.45pm, Assembly Rooms, sold out