CityLife

CityLife.co.uk Comedian of the Year: Heat 2

HEADLINER: Ferry

AND into round two of the new and improved City Life comedy competition and once again, Jesus was it a toughie for the judges.

Being as XS’s Toby Hadoke and Gareth from the Comedy Store spent much time and effort sorting through the entrants to whittle them from 100 to just 24, meant that the quality of the heats this year is much higher.

Cue much pencil chewing and scalp scratching from the judges.

Up first on the night was veteran competitor and stalwart of the local scene Roland Gent.

He kicked off with an old favourite involving horse abuse and enthusiastically ran through his set of scally trick or treaters and Captain Pugwash jumpers.

Up next was the characterful Rod Shepherd who was keen to share with us his conspiracy theories in a brilliantly half crazed performance - his juxtaposition of an iconic piece of photojournalism and some Lego was sublime.

Rounding off the first part was Sean Mason, about whom Hadoke informed the room was the youngest of the competitors.

This only showed in a little too much reliance on the work of George Lucas to get him through.

Though his set needed a little more work, he held promise nonetheless.

In the second section Hadoke divulged more terms for dodgy sexual acts – as had been touched upon in the first section - much to the amusement of the audience who probably tucked them away for future reference.

And back to the contenders, Gareth Urwin had a touch of the Butlins’ red coat about him, particularly with his opening gag concerning his Gran but his ludicrously extended metaphor comparing himself to the (ex) planet Pluto was a delight.

Andrew Ryan has an abundance of charm and a least one gag gifted to him thanks to the fact that he bears a resemblance to Ardal O’Hanlon.

Last up was Michael J Dolan with a set that almost served as therapy for the misanthrope – cathartic for him but highly amusing for the rest of us.

Mick Ferry stepped in as the headliner to replace the advertised Ted Alexandro and it was announced that the conspiracy theorist mentalist Rod Shepherd and Pluto non-planet Gareth Urwin would go through to the final.

What did you think? Have your say.