

Carr may still be overexposed on television, but his omnipresence on panel shows (hosting 8 Out Of 10 Cats, guesting on QI, etc.) hasn't encouraged a backlash against him. Why? Well, he's a consummate stand-up performer -- blessed with enviable comic timing, exact patter, and the ability to hone gags to precision. His set here was a mix of old material available on his best-selling Live DVDs, but there was an equal amount of fresh stuff.
What I like about Carr is that you get your money's worth. His gags are usually one-liners, so even a 20-minute set is packed will more laughs than most comedians manage in an hour. Any duds are quickly forgotten about, and Carr's delight in shocking audiences with near-the-knuckle material about sick children and sex means there's a pleasant mix of gasp and giggle to his comedy.


Most people only know Alan Carr from his co-presenting of The Friday Night Project, but he's actually an accomplished stand-up comic. With his podgy body, thick black glasses, receding hairline, Snagglepuss teeth, tombstone teeth, and Zippy-style voice -- Carr was perhaps destined to become a funnyman -- and he uses his unique look to his advantage.
As a gay man, his humour mines predictable territory of sexual double entendres, bitchy comments, and acidic ripostes. He's not afraid to be self-deprecating either, which makes him endearing, and he engages well with the audience. His style is very conversational and warm-hearted behind withering glares over his glasses, and his material had a surprisingly hight hit-rate. It also helped that his stand-up persona is quite new to television audiences, so while I'm sure his jokes were plundered from many live gigs, the majority of them were new to my ears...
Next Time: Jo Brand and Michael McIntyre.
19 November 2007
BBC1, 10.35 pm