Lorraine Wilson's verdict: three stars
Eye candy is rare in the stand-up community. So it was understandable that some of the ladies were getting a little hot under the collar waiting for the arrival of John Bishop for the first of his two nights in Glasgow.
They certainly had to wait. Through announcements, a strange three-minute countdown courtesy of a towering digital display, then a bizarre short film. Designed to heighten the anticipation of the arrival of the long-haired luvvie from Liverpool, it almost had the opposite effect.
As an arena show it needed a touch of razzle dazzle, but when he finally appeared in a sombre, smart suit it felt more like the overture to a motivational speaker than a comedian.
But he's more than that now. Presenter, actor, writer, charity fundraiser - he's the all-round good bloke who would always be first to the bar and tackle cleanly during a game of footie. He's that rarest of celebrities - one with actual talent.
It's difficult to dislike such an affable guy. He's a great storyteller but even the best performers need great material at this level, and this wasn't the strongest from him.
There are echoes of the retro comic here. Not only in the personal anecdotal material - family, wife, chat-up observations as well as little glimpses into his new superstar status - but the high stool and side table was highly reminiscent of Dave Allen.
As blokey as he likes to appear, previous outings have shown more depth - but that doesn't fill arenas. Who can blame him for making up for lost time, however, having only started stand up seriously in his fortieth year, but charm won't always mask weaker material.
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