Night for chuckle lovers

THIS was another lively night of comedy at The Red Lion culminating with cracking headline act Brendan Dempsey.

The April instalment of Basingstoke’s Laughter-House kicked off with Liam Mullone who entertained the crowd with his musings, such as on the follies of “drink responsibly” labels on booze – when surely one should not drink and then do the tax returns – and the survival treasure hunt that airplane passengers must follow in the event of a crash.

Jan Jack (pictured) followed with a witty – and dirty – rhyme, followed by Joe Wilson who really got the now warmed-up crowd going.

He was excellent at dealing with hecklers, not holding back from a touch of microphone violence, and his Michael McIntyre impersonation was spot on.

After a second break, we were treated to a great headliner in Dempsey, who appeared in Father Ted and cult film Waking Ned.

The veteran comic has a very calm, confident and often quiet delivery which make his punchlines even funnier when they hit home.

Comedy-goers also chuckled at his disdain for children and his wonder at SAS nuts, who secretly leave traces of themselves in all food stuffs.

Regular compere Danny Dawes was also on good form, as ever, this time (playfully) laying into a Scotsman, as well as a bunch of IT and oil workers in the front row.

Newcomers at Jan Jack’s next comedy night, on May 20, beware – don’t sit at the front!