Comedy: Jimmy Carr – Gagging Order

The big comic with the big face plays the big room at the Brighton Dome to see in the New Year

James Anthony Patrick Carr is a comedy force to be reckoned with. He tours non-stop all year, taking off only five weeks before he’s off on the road again. Add to this his hosting duties on Channel 4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats, the odd guest spot on somebody else’s panel show on radio and TV, plus the occasional acting role, and writing a couple of books, it’s a surprise he has the time to write a brand new show every year – but he does. And garners plenty of rave reviews for them each time they’re released to the public and the critics.

As much as it’s easy to begrudge the class swot, Jimmy Carr is the comedic workaholic who wins you round. Comedy is a cut-throat industry and as much as everybody loves a nice guy you have to make people laugh – continuously – to stick around in this industry. And (I have been reliably informed) he’s also a nice guy. With a penchant for saying funny, rude things.

Jimmy Carr’s playful nature with the line of good taste has won him legions of fans, skipping back and forth over it. He’s gone on record as saying his favourite sound is a belly laugh followed by the gasp of realisation you get with a very funny joke that the laughee suddenly realises they possibly shouldn’t be laughing at. However, his delivery and degree of likability stops him from receiving too many of those letters and outraged editorials some other boundary-probing comics are currently prone to receiving.

Suffice to say, if you’re looking to battle those New Year blues a trip to see Dr Jimmy could be just the ticket to snap you out of the doldrums. Original and sharp as ever, Mr Carr is a treat to brighten up the chills.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Saturday 26 January, 8pm, £25.