Review by Steve Bennett

Jo Dakin is definitely different in her approach. She’s completely hatstand bonkers, with a deranged set that’s forever wrongfooting the audience. Such a quirky approach tends to be hit and miss, but she’s got a keen ear for how language works – and how it can be subverted – and she certainly earns points for originality.

She starts by deconstructing the ladettish style of some female stand-ups – ‘you know what it’s like, eh ladies?’ – which she pretty much negates by doing her own take on smear tests later in the set. But there’s a nice off-beam charm to her delivery that serves her well, even when the topic is something as inconsequential as patronising makeover shows.

She comes into her own in more eccentric segments, of which there are plenty, such as slyly slipping into Bon Jovi lyrics for no real reason.

In short: Dakin’s routine is patchy, interesting, wildly unpredictable, and sporadically very funny.

Review date: 30 Oct 2006
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett