Lee Evans Live

at Wembley Arena

Ever since Newman and Baddiel's groundbreaking stadium performances, the path has been open for high profile comedians to be able to take to a stage that would be more effectively dominated by Bruce Springsteen

Although the likeable, reactionary and highly physical performance of Lee Evans can stretch further than most, it's difficult to watch this without longing to see him perform in a more intimate atmosphere where he, and his art, surely belongs.

Despite that, and despite a performance heavily punctuated by a use of language one doesn't associate with his television persona, Evans spreads his wares across a whacking two hours, stacked with the kind of jerkily accentuated jokes and observations you have come to expect from the man who has openly wrestled the mantle away from spirited octogenarian, Norman Wisdom.

Simple, effective, unchallenging but, time and time again, genuinely funny. It's encouraging to encounter a man who can raise laughter with the flick of an eyebrow and a funny walk, rather than relying on overt cleverness, as in Coogan.

Mick Middles