Review by Steve Bennett

These highly-polished skills means his set cracks ahead incredibly fast, and that he exercises supreme control over the audience. You're never more than a few seconds from a punchline, and he can confidently toss out well-honed quips at errant punters without missing a beat. Younger comics could certainly learn a thing or two about delivery from his assured style.

He doesn't resort to the tired old gags of the working men's clubs, either. While he's not going to win any awards for boundary-pushing originality, his broad middle-of-the-road observational comedy still proves impressively effective.

He says his point of view is of a 'middle-aged moaner', but it's really any excuse for a gaggy comment. His easily accessible set evoke the nostalgia of Crackerjack, observations about travelling on London's Tube network, or stupid conversations with cab drivers. But he's not afraid to crack a bad-taste topical gag that divides the audience - very vocally - safe in the knowledge he has the talent to bring everyone back onside.

Not everything works - a tired complaint abut the bewildering choice at Starbucks, for example, lands on stony ground – but it doesn't matter much if one gag fails, for another will be along very soon.

Oliver also has the confidence to depart from the script, and turns on an endearingly self-deprecating commentary if events spiral out of his control. It's another pro's technique in an impressive arsenal of them.

He proves mainstream doesn't have to mean familiar, shared jokes, and with a gag rate most comics would envy, few will be impervious to his proven talents.

Review date: 7 May 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett