Phoebe Waller-Bridge has designed a Fleabag-inspired gin, with profits from the bottles to go to the festival where she debuted the show.
The actress, writer and producer, 35, from London, has collaborated with Edinburgh Gin to produce a screen-printed, hand-drawn design.
The £48 bottle features a handwritten ‘I love you’ from Phoebe’s titular character and ‘It’ll Pass’ from Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest – their exchange from the closing scene of the BBC show.
All profits from the bottles will go towards supporting artists to return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where Fleabag first debuted in 2013.
Fans of the show will remember the Hot Priest’s favourite drink was a gin and tonic, and in season two he bonded with Fleabag over offering her a can from M&S.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 35, from London, has designed a Fleabag-inspired gin featuring quotes from the show, with profits from the bottles to go to Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Waller-Bridge, who earlier this year was named the first president of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘Gin and theatre are my two great loves.
‘We wanted this bottle to capture a glimpse of Edinburgh in all her mystery and wonder, through the eyes of Fleabag, who found her first home there.
‘I hope every purchase inspires outrageous and creative conversations over ice while bringing the beloved Fringe festival back to life.
‘It’s important to add that Andrew Scott handwrote a message on the bottle… if that isn’t incentive enough to hunt one down and hold it against your cheek, I don’t know what is.’
The bottle features a handwritten ‘I love you’ from Phoebe’s titular character and ‘It’ll Pass’ from Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest – their exchange from the closing scene of the BBC show
Only a few thousand of the £48 bottles will be available to buy. The first will go on sale on July 20.
It is hoped to raise £150,000 for the Fringe ahead of its 75th anniversary in 2022.
Shona McCarthy, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society chief executive, said: ‘The Fringe is known for being the greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet, and that’s in no small part due to the brilliant artists that make it happen every year.
‘Artists tell vital stories, help us make sense of things, and make Edinburgh an even more magical place to be in August.
Only a few thousand of the £48 bottles will be available to buy. The first will go on sale on July 20 ahead of the start of the Fringe in August
Fans of the show will remember the Hot Priest’s favourite drinks were gin and tonics, with the character bonding with Fleabag in season two over a G&T
‘As we look to rebuild the Fringe, it’s essential that artists are supported to recover.
‘This collaboration between the Fringe Society, Edinburgh Gin and Phoebe Waller-Bridge will be a much-needed lifeline to so many Fringe artists, it will enable them to get back to doing what they do best.’
Phoebe launched her Fleabag character in a one-woman show at the festival back in 2013.
Her Fleabag show at the famous Underbelly venue in the Cowgate, which seats 60 in the audience, was turned into a dark comedy-drama for BBC 3 in 2016, and spurred her onto stardom.
Where it all started: The actress launched her Fleabag character in a one-woman show at the festival back in 2013
President! Earlier this year, she was unveiled as the Fringe Society’s first ever honorary president amid the ongoing uncertainty about what form the popular event will take this year (Pictured in 2013)
She went on to win BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Emmys with the TV adaption of her Fringe show,
Phoebe wrote Killing Eve and was brought on board to work on the upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die.
Passionate about supporting the arts, last year, she joined forces with Olivia Colman to create a fund which raised more than £1 million for theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
It comes after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was cancelled for the first time in its history last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Phoebe wrote Killing Eve and was brought on board to work on the upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die
Registration for both online and in-person performances at this year’s event – taking place from August 6 to 30 – opened last month.
Bosses of the Fringe warned last year that audiences were suffering from ‘digital fatigue’ – and said events would not return to normal until 2022.
They said the 2021 festival would be a mix of live and digital events – but warned audiences were getting frustrated with online content which they don’t want to pay for.