Ben Davids is a low-key, parochial act, starting with material about his life as a librarian in smalltown Tamworth. The delivery is about as interesting as that sounds: one-liners barked out without much emotion, perhaps indicating that this newcomer is not yet relaxed enough on stage to put much of his personality on show.

Such a deadpan style leaves jokes very exposed, and unfortunately many in his repertoire don’t Cut the Mustard on their own, especially with the air of familiarity that surrounds parts of his routine such as choking during charades and masturbation damaging the short-term memory.