Georgie Grier hits back at cynics who claim a photo she posted of herself in tears is a ‘publicity stunt’ after Jason Manford offered his support when only one person came to her Edinburgh Fringe show

Georgie Grier has criticized cynics by claiming a photo she tweeted of herself in tears is a ‘publicity stunt’ after Jason Manford offered his support when only one person came to her show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The actress shared a photo of herself sobbing on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, alongside the caption, “There was one person in my audience today as I performed my one woman play ‘Sunsets’ at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s fine, isn’t it? It is well…?’

Following her post, which has now been viewed more than 3.4 million times, Georgie received an outpouring of support from the likes of comedians Dara Ó Briain, 51, and former Starstruck judge Jason, 42, as well as more than 2,700 users.

TV star Jason responded by sending Georgie a video, reassuring the writer: “It’s totally normal for one person to rock out to your show, especially at the start of Edinburgh and also for you to be a little upset or annoyed or p* *** * about the.’

She has now revealed that she used social media not to worry her mother by calling her in an emotional state and says she had no intention of letting her post go viral.

TV star Jason responded by sending Georgie a video reassuring the writer: ‘It’s totally normal for one person to rock out to your show, especially at the start of Edinburgh’

Georgie is currently performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in her one-woman play ‘Sunsets’, but cried after only one person came to see her show

Georgie said, “I didn’t want to call my mom crying. I didn’t want her to go through that again. I thought the hashtag Ed Fringe community on social media was a really supportive place.

“I thought maybe I’d find some other people who had one person or get some comforting words.

‘I didn’t expect how many reactions I got, it was so beautiful, so unexpected, so many words for what I experienced. I’m so grateful for what I’ve been through.’

Those who doubt Georgie’s intentions will remember comedian Robin Grainger, who rose to fame last year when one person attended his show at the Scottish Festival.

She added, “I just wanted someone to vent to who wasn’t my mother. At that moment I had tears in my eyes, I didn’t think beyond needing a little relaxation and not having to bother my mother, my father and my sister.’

Georgie, who says she decided to stage a one-woman play to save on production costs, Anita Rani explained on today’s Woman’s Hour that she never shared the comment she made less than 24 hours after sharing her tearful post had expected.

Jason told Georgie in his video that he had experienced similar moments in the early stages of his career, saying: “I did Edinburgh in 2004 and 2005 and I remember the first week was such a slog and I was out in the rain and people didn’t come and I had total imposter syndrome.’

She said: “Comedian Jason Manford was kind enough to release a video saying he was in a similar position. He made a very small video… it was so nice of him. And other comedians and other performers at the Edinburgh Fringe.’

Georgie held it together until she was offstage. A cry gave her the release she needed and shared her upset online.

Jason spoke of his own experience performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, saying he had ‘imposter syndrome’ and assured Georgie that she is only at the beginning of her journey.

The only audience member who turned up to watch Georgie’s show ‘Sunsets’ is a fellow Edinburgh Fringe performer.

Actress Sophie Craig, who also performs in a one-woman play called ‘I Love You, Now What?’ during the festival, Georgie offered her comfort by “laughing graciously,” possibly even when she didn’t find the show funny.

Georgie said, “I met her once and she came very kindly after I messaged her asking if she could come.

“I walked on stage and my first thought was that I felt sorry for her because I didn’t want her to sit and make eye contact with me for an hour, but she was very friendly with her smile.

She laughed, possibly at times she didn’t even think was funny to help me out and we ended up having fun together too. She’s the wonderful Sophie Craig, and she’s an actor, she also has a one-woman play in Edinburgh Fringe. I’ve seen her play… it’s brilliant.’

Georgie was visibly upset after only Sophie came to her show, which she says took a lot of hard work and preparation.

Georgie kept it together until she got off stage, saying that crying gave her the release she needed, and that she shared her pain online.

She said, “Obviously I was pretty upset too. I knew it was preview week and I knew it was going to be tough, but there was a little upset and I was like, ‘I’ve got to go through with this and treat it like a dress rehearsal.’

And it all just came out afterwards and then I cried just because I put so much hard work into this piece, like so many people on the other side of their show do. It was a bit of a liberation afterwards.’

The actor will perform her show again today and throughout the festival.

Despite the publicity her tweet is generating, Georgie says there is still “no guarantee of ticket sales” and that she has no idea how many spectators will show up each day.

She said, “I like the support, though I’ll never know who’s there until I walk into that theater, and I’ll be thankful if someone shows up.”