This angry and foul-mouthed Australian stand-up is a masterly exponent of the art, intelligently and hilariously railing against bigotry without ever coming across as preachy.

Indeed, he is just as likely to savage politically-correct opinion as he is to attack the right. Not that it's all politics, though - there's plenty of the graphic takes on sex you'd expect from an uninhibted Aussie.

It can be an uneasy act to watch - the emotions occassionally turn to pure spite-filled bile, which can leave a a decidedly nasty taste. But then, you're always left with the impression that shocking you for the sake of it was the whole point.

At his best, though, Burns's fiery act makes a welcome change from the tame observational stuff that's out there.

So, if you don't mind being challenged - even irritated or outraged - while you laugh, Burns is the one for you.