A mini heatwave may have swept over the North East at the weekend, but the hottest ticket in town was for Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert's new stand-up show at the Sunderland Empire.

Friday’s performance on Wearside was followed by a date at the O2 City Hall in Newcastle on Saturday evening.

The comedian extraordinaire is on tour with his show Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit. A run which will see the artist on the road well into 2025.

Rhod has returned to the stage just eighteen months after his cancer diagnosis. In a recent interview with the writer, he said: “If you told me 18 months ago that I'd be back on stage doing a full show about the cancer story – that’s absolutely mad. A year ago, I couldn't even have imagined being back on stage or ever doing stand-up again.”

And with a room full of adoring fans at the Sunderland Empire, everyone was happy to see Rhod back on stage, doing what he loves. And for those present, the feeling was mutual.

The show centres around Rhod's life experiences and journey during his cancer treatment. Now, that may not sound like your conventional stand-up comedy gig, and maybe it's not.

Cancer, by any stretch of the imagination, is no laughing matter, and perhaps for most comedians, it would be a taboo subject. It's affected so many people - it must be addressed with sensitivity. But having endured such a life-changing illness as head and neck cancer, Rhod collated many witty tales and encountered a huge amount of irony throughout his journey.

For example, how many hit songs were written about failed relationships? Hardship and life experience sometimes provide a bounty of material for those in the entertainment industry. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, or in this instance, grapefruit juice from grapefruit. And that’s exactly what the Welsh comic is doing.

Perhaps one of the most ironic events discussed in the show was that Rhod became a patient at the very cancer centre he had been a patron of for many years. All those good karma points accumulated through treks and fundraising, and the comedian received treatment in a room with his very picture on the wall. Although now the only organisation he wishes to be patron of is the National Lottery, he joked.

By his admission, he wants to: “Take some power back from this sh*tty disease by laughing at it.” Of course, during a show about cancer, there is going to be a certain degree of dark humour – like never Google your symptoms. Perhaps we can all relate to that.

Throughout the show, Gilbert is warm, caring and engaging, particularly with the cancer patients in the audience. And whilst Rhod received a bounty of letters of support from members of the public, not all the correspondence was as welcome as you would perhaps imagine. Subsequently, his Golden Grapefruit awards were bestowed upon a few prize individuals.  

Having had a starring role in Rhod’s last show, The Book of John, the artist's comedic sidekick/driver again gifted Gilbert a treasure trove of material. And subsequently, hilarity ensued.

Gilbert highlighted his gratitude to the NHS through a heartfelt video montage. But the most welcome message, and the happy ending to the show, was when Rhod declared that the: “Treatment seems to have worked, the tumours have gone and I’m cancer free.”

As the old saying goes, if you don't laugh, you will cry. And that’s the spirit which Rhod Gilbert brings with his latest show. It comes from a deeply personal place. It's very insightful and emotional in places, but most importantly, it's extremely funny. Rhod Gilbert is back, and his current show illustrates why he is still one of the best in the business.