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It is rare that you ask a girl to come watch a gimp-based evening with you; however I’m glad I did because Late Night Gimp Fight is more than just gimp-based jokes. The night thankfully strays away from using base humour as its only punch line. In fact it was surprisingly intelligent. The highlights of the delightfully dark sketch based show came with the musical medleys, encompassing bestiality and losing your virginity, and the truly hilarious UV shows – think rapping toilet seats. Leaving the show, I heard people asking each other; “so who was your favourite gimp?” For once I didn’t feel the need to judge, mine was the ‘jock’.

The Old Market, 22 October
Rating:
Ben Scott

Nick Helm is a force of nature, with a belligerence and adorable sweetness visibly fighting to reign as his onstage persona. This rock and roll comedy monster has shoehorned ‘dreams’ as his show’s theme this year, and by golly he’s going to utilise it. Mixing music with shouting, befriending, gags, ridiculous posturing and remarkable costume changes as well a certain amount of audience interaction, this blew our socks right off and into the next time zone. Helm’s greatest difficulty however is the brilliance of his show last year – Keep Hold Of The Gold – which left me with a grinning rictus, a high standard to maintain or meet. Still an utterly fabulous show.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 20 October
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

Compered by Iain Sterling – twice nominated for a Chortle Award himself, this was a fusion of comedy stylings from those who won or were nominated for awards by the prestigious comedy website this year. As such it was a mix of tempos, some of which were downright hilarious like the fast gag attack of Student Award winner Adam Hess with his excited delivery and charming jubilation at applause, and some stuck in the mud a tad more like Diane Spencer’s likeable filthmonger who caught many on the back foot with a patchy set. Andrew Lawrence was the consummate professional, proving why he easily earned his nomination for best headliner, and the evening closed with sketch group Late Night Gimp Fight, whose cheeky rudeness was well received. Iain Sterling did himself proud as chaperone for the evening’s proceedings, showing snatches of a rather sterling set. Like all good awards, this held a few new favourites for everybody.

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 20 October
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

“This show isn’t really about much,” was how this London TV panel show regular described his show. Indeed, the new look Donnelly (his once long, curly mane and tinted specs are now replaced with that “young Rolf Harris” look) has a seemingly endless supply of trivial, yet amusing anecdotes, ranging from annoying modern technology to why not to like animals. Though a likeable enough stage presence with charm to spare, a major obstacle, which Donelly readily admitted, was the somewhat annoying habit of laughing at his own jokes. Though they were pretty funny, the feeling of self-congratulatory back-slapping ended up detracting from a decent, if generic, show.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 20 October
Rating:
Nick Aldwinckle