BBC Comedy On The Fringe 2011

With Isy Suttie

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Charlie Baker: The World's Greatest Show-Off- Fringe 2009
Live Review

One of the brightest stars in the showbiz firmament, at least by his own reckoning, Charlie Baker’s Fringe debut is big, brash and oozes the confidence of an established entertainer. Sadly, there’s a tremendous gulf between the West Country native’s assurance and his comic abilities. In this all-singing, all-dancing hour, force of personality rather than material, drives the crowd like reluctant cows to market, and perhaps beyond.

He begins by introducing his sponsor, Devon Flag, a merchandise website for the county that he keeps returning to without seeking much in the way of comedy, so I’m inclined to believe it might be a genuine endorsement.

Thereafter, he reels off a couple of self-confessedly old jokes, has the audience impersonate South African choral legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo section by section, for no discernible reason, before crooning a selection of easy listening standards, the lyrics modified to include references to agricultural machinery. And more charmlessly, just swearing.

He has a winning routine about the only three dance steps you need for am dram musicals but pedestrian observational material about Sky TV and driving behind a hearse. An anecdote about encountering Roland Gift on a train finds your sympathies entirely with the former Fine Young Cannibals frontman. Most inexplicably of all, Baker then appoints volunteers from the audience to recreate a cattle auction, a drawn-out exercise which yields a noisy scene but little in the way of laughter.

Throughout all this, his grinning cheer and perhaps his lingering resemblance to Jack Black afford Baker greater credit than he deserves and it’s hard not to warm a little to his puppyish desire to please.

Suddenly stripping down to a leotard, he promises ‘five big finishes in a row!’” and proceeds to belt through closing lines from the likes of That’s Life and The Wonder of You, revealing a highly impressive set of pipes, which steal the admiration his comedy failed to muster.

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We saw Charlie at Manchester Comedy on 4th November. He's good even though the rather inebriated audience were very badly behaved.

David Shaw, November 2011

Not heard of him before but just seen him on ITV4s Beer & Pizza Club. His comedy was tired and unintelligent. The other guests seemed a bit embarrassed. He couldn't shut up either, talking over everyone. Overall, a bad impression was made.

Phil Edgar, September 2010

Saw Charlie at Latitude and this weekend at Big Chill. The Latitude tent was an impossible task which he had a good go at, getting 3 or 4 rounds of applause and the crowd definitely on his side in the row with the idiot in the audience.At the Big Chill he was on with Rob Deering in his music quiz which was excellent fun.He was very funny but should just sing more!

James Buck, August 2010

Saw him at edingburgh highlights last weekend. He was awful he just sang and shouted at everyone, no jokes whatsoever, rubbish

Jim Shaw, May 2010

Very funny, very engaging and probably one of the best MCs I have seen. His routine about Newton Abbot cattle auction is silly and yet incredibly funny

Alex Thorner, March 2010

Charlie Baker is fabulous, his act is so funny. Great all round entertainer. Everyone should go see him!

Rachel, January 2010

Saw Charlie at The Stables in Milton Keynes this week. He spent the first half of his set trying to 'work' the audience. And failed miserably. He then went on to his set material(which actually wasn't bad) but he had lost the two back rows by that stage, and they just sat there chatting, which annoyed everyone, including him.

Jo Phelan, November 2009

Can't believe the dreadful review Charlie got at this year's Fringe! We saw him and thought he was absolutely brilliant. He's a naturally funny guy and had the audience we were with in bits. Must have seen 10 comics at this year's Fringe and he and Terry Alderton were the best.

Ade, October 2009

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