Review by Steve Bennett

Newbie Daniel Rigby has the air of a man trying to make a serious point, but forever allowing his mind to wander on to other, more surreal things. First up, he takes the anti-crime posters reminding people to guard their belongings and spin it into a sharp routine about paranoia and the warped mentality of blaming the victim – a message only undermined by his unnecessary introduction of the odd character of PC Haddock-Face.

But both sides of his act work together wonderfully as he starts talking about rubbish, only to wind up on a sublime and surreal diversion about centaurs, who he portrays as easily-embarrassed middle-class people feeling awkward at dinner parties and other social occasions. It is smart, original stuff, and very well told by this confident 24-year-old

He runs a commentary on his own gags, plays around a little with the expectations of stand-up, and all the while sounds like a pro-in-waiting. Whether he be talking about news reports of Ariel Sharon on his deathbed, or BAE’s ‘environmentally friendly’ weapons, he finds the funny and exploits it efficiently.

Review date: 23 Aug 2007
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett