By John Gibson. Venue 108: Hoots @ The Apex

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This show is an opportunity for comics (that might not be repped by major management companies) to showcase their sets and personalities.  Using the Mock The Week segment (in which random topics have to be improvised on) each performer has to venture into some Reginald D Hunter territory, whilst not crossing over into Farage country.

Some of the topics that the audience contributed tonight were, ‘the guy who missed Trump’, female comedians’, gen-Z etc.  On this occasion there were five comics, but this format works better with four, (although there was more diversity than you might expect from a show called The Hater’s Ball).

The highlights were Aideen McQueen, lightening things with some well-written observations about illogical rampant feminism. Mike Eshaq (a US comic with TV experience) who found the constant British references confusing, but his personality carried him through. The good-natured John Oakes gamely joined in the assault on a tree surgeon in the front row (who volunteered to be roasted) but apologised after, revealing that he didn’t have the appetite for such sport.

The clear winner on this night was the effervescent Kyle Legacy or Lebronjamesofcomedy who revelled in the roasting, and the crowd loved his honesty and bravery, tackling the Paralympics and racism with aplomb.  Darius Davies has created a format that is the perfect late night injection of adrenaline with plenty of variety to please the most agitated audience member.