WHAT do you expect from a comedian who bases his act on being a pub landlord? The usual.

Al Murray's topics range from current affairs and politics to foreigners and history, all delivered with an extreme nationalist sentiment that makes you rock with laughter.

It is because people don't seem to express such views in these politically correct times that it comes as a shock when he acts so obnoxiously.

Complete with a bar on stage inside the marquee, Murray plays the bigoted bartender perfectly as he lampoons the values of the true Brit. He is reminiscent of Alf Garnett in the way he is so mercilessly xenophobic and blatantly ignorant. But it is done in a sophisticated manner that the audience warms to and there is no real hatred in his satire. "If it wasn't for the Gulf war we would all be speaking Iraqi," was one gem.

No-one is safe from his vitriol, as hecklers who think they might be funny find out when he uses a wicked wit to put them down. "You sir, I'd like to give you the opportunity to add a useful element to the show."

Silence.

"The difference between you and me is that I know what I am going to say next."

Raucous laughter.

He rounded off the evening with an inflatable globe like Charlie Chaplin had in The Great Dictator and took the audience on a world tour, exploiting popular stereotypes before returning to good old Britain.

It was great to have the Cockney-sounding pub landlord at the Newcastle Comedy Festival. Shame they couldn't make it a double.

* Newcastle Comedy Festival runs until Sunday. Booking office 0191-232 6030.

Published: 05/10/2004