I seem to have accidentally made acquaintances with Craig Hill.

I didn’t mean to, but from the endless questions about who I am, what I do, where I was born and what I am doing watching his show, I’d probably say he knows a fair bit about me.

The problem is that I don’t think the other 180 people in the audience are the least bit interested in my life story - which in all honesty isn’t that exciting.

I glance at my watch. Hill has been playing with the audience for well over half an hour now and doesn’t seem the slightest bit interested in getting on with it. I sigh and listen to his next target, and the next and the next.

Don’t get me wrong, audience banter can be fun. Hell, for many comedy gigs it can be the most memorable part of the night. But it isn’t a show. Why would I pay to see this when it is no different to what I could find in the back room of a pub on any Saturday night? In short I wouldn’t.

What Hill manages to portray is the feeling that he hasn’t really got much material to work with and is filling in until the main act arrives.

Hill obviously has some talent but the Graham Norton esq style that he employs has been done, and better, by, well... Graham Norton.

This is a shame as, when he finally does get around to some material he gives himself time to employ his excellent singing voice and some good anecdotal humour, but by then I am already worn out, slightly bored, and thinking about the next show.

Tim Clark

Craig Hill is appearing at the Gilded Balloon until 31st August

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