PHIL NICHOL & JANICE PHAYRE – FREEDUMB

Words cannot describe the hero worship that emanates from us upon the uttering of the name of the great Phil Nichol. Last year's show, "Things I Like I Lick" was declared our all-out favourite show of the year, and we're ever so pleased he's come back. He is a Perrier-Nominated former Juice Pig, composer of classics like "Emotionally Challenged Girl" and "The Only Gay Eskimo" and armed with the ability to mood-swing so greatly from one moment to the next that every member of the audience is likely to get caught in the cross-fire, his shows are edge-of-the-seat, side-splitting, tear-jerking, heart-warming, racy, delicious, unmissable lumps of greatness that will never be equalled in measure. In short, we like. We like a lot. Nichol has a marvellous ability to help everyone to join in with his show, whether you want to or not, through cajoling, constant interminable persuasion, seduction or simply screaming at them until they sing along. And if none of the above work, he will tweak his nipples at you. He is one of the very few comedians that can reduce you to helpless tears of laughter simply by the way he stands, or the looks he throws around the audience. He gives his all in the name of entertaining you, and by god by the end of it you’ll be well and truly entertained. This year, he’s added the extra spark of teaming up with Janice Phayre. Janice is one half of double act Susan and Janice, another CL favourite of old. It’s not immediately obvious what to expect from this pairing, but it’s never been particularly easy to predict what Nichol will get up to on a show by show basis, so strap yourselves in and brace yourself for a bumpy ride.