Review by Chris Brooker

Toby was on fine form tonight. He produced some absolute gems and had them in the palm of his hand again. There was a hint of The Unbroadcastable Show tonight as Toby and John Warburton pulled their most recent Davros sketch out of their hat. Sterling stuff.

Phil Buckley kicked the night off in fine style and got a great response for his shark gag and the speed camera classic amongst others. Pulled one of my tricks and blanked towards the end of his set but turned it around nicely.

Next up, Toby made my night by giving me a spot due to two acts dropping out. Got to try out some new stuff and had a blast doing so. Didn't use DVD Porn, Ironic or a couple of other bankers so I was pleased with the way it turned out.

Next up, Wil Hodgson. Wil. Hodgson. Superb stuff, not to everyone's tastes in the room but I loved it. Cracking lines about lads magazines that vocalised the feelings I'd not been quite able to put my finger on. His tales of Chippenham facism and My Little Pony maintanence were superb. Had a fine line about why he's not homophobic. "I like gay people because they piss off everyone I hate." Had a fine stonecutters tattoo on his arse as well. He is the chosen one!

I didn't hear a lot of Mike Wilkinson's set because I was in the kitchen sorting something out for later. From what I heard through the door he got a belting response. I emerged in time to hear his superb take on English folk abroad as well as a superb way to get under the skin of an American tourist. Wilky got his well deserved encore and gave the crowd a little more of what they fancied to a fine response.

After the bell, young Lee Martin was called onto the stage by Toby. Seeing as it was his 27th birthday the next XS Malarkey marked the occasion with a bottle of finest bourbon and possibly the gayest cake in the entire world.

Not the busiest night of the summer but still the kind of audience that most clubs would kill for. Suspect it's going to be the calm before the storm as next week, and for the winter months, the place is going to be heaving again.

If Carlsberg made comedy clubs, they'd make XS Malarkey.

Chris.