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Critic's choice: Best comedy shows
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 09.02.07
Full throttle: Bouncy comic Omid Djalili
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Bruce Dessau's top five comedy picks include the openly political Jeremy Hardy, the stuttering Jaik Campbell and Phil Nichol of Naked Racist fame.
Omid Djalili
Beck Theatre, Hayes Hackney Empire, E8
This updated touring version of Djalili's sell-out 2005 No Agenda set finds the bouncy actor/comic at full throttle, exploring cultural stereotypes and his own identity crisis, "torn between Dickie Davies and the Ayatollah Khomeini". Djalili also pops up in next Wednesday's new sitcom The Abbey, but catch him live, he's much, much funnier in the flesh. Beck Theatre: Tonight, 8pm. (020 8561 8371) Hackney Empire: Mon 12 Feb, 8pm. (020 8985 2424).
Phil Nichol
Soho Theatre, W1
After over ten years of visits to the Edinburgh Fringe, Phil Nichol finally picked up a Perrier (renamed the if.comeddies award) in 2006. The Naked Racist was not his best show, but it made the biggest splash, probably because it climaxed with the manic Canuck wandering nude through the audience. Having said that, there's no faulting Nichol's gift for a wild story or his energy. If you'll excuse the expression his knob is certainly turned up to eleven here. (0870 429 6883) Until 17 Feb, 9.30pm.
Jaik Campbell
Etcetera Theatre, NW1
If I had a stutter, stand-up comedy would be bottom on my list of career choices - but it doesn't seem to have impeded Jaik Campbell. He has been a working gagsmith for a number of years, and while he naturally gets plenty of material by mocking his impediment - his new show is called L-L-Lost For Words - he also has a smart way with a one-liner. It might take a while to come out, but it is usually worth it. (020 7482 4857). Fri 9-Sat 10 Feb, 9.30pm.
Jeremy Hardy
Blackheath Concert Halls
One of stand-up's great stalwarts, Hardy was a winner of the Perrier Award back in the Eighties before it guaranteed fame and fortune. Instead he has become a household name in Radio 4-listening households, not to mention one of the best openly political comedians on the circuit. Hardy might look like a cuddly off-duty social worker, but there is a surprising amount of venom when he opens his mouth. (020 8463 0100).
Sat 10 Feb, 8pm.
