Magners Glasgow International Comedy festival

May 2010

More Des Clarke videos

CV

Des Clarke: Des Comedy Jam
Live Review

Des Clarke’s show is super Scottish. He’s an award-winning radio presenter in Glasgow, and his high-energy walk on music and intro is met with equal enthusiasm from a heavily Scottish crowd.

His trademark million-mile-an-hour approach has slowed to merely ‘very quick indeed’, but his clarity is enviable and you get a lot of funny for your money here. He’s magnificent at telling the Scots about themselves: the busted economy comparable to Iceland, the likely pitfalls of the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scottish football, tennis hero Andy Murray, John Smeaton the Glasgow Airport terrorism hero.

There’s some huge laughs to be had from his stories of a Gorbals upbringing, Scottish vernacular and unflinching approach to strong language. Who thought mum’s swearing could still be funny? But it really is when it’s his mum doing his toiletries shopping. The man next to me had tears of laughter splashing off his knees and I wasn’t far behind.

He really delivers a strong, laugh-filled hour with a mixture of personal anecdotes about his working-class background, family and friends, and then the gleeful examination of Scotland’s national character, the local genius for turning negatives to positives and Scotland’s place in the world.

He’s really not stretching himself much with this show, and gets a very easy ride from a local crowd, but what he’s neglecting in his personal development he invests in delivering a properly entertaining, hilarious show.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

One of the best live stand-up acts I've seen in Gglasgow. Well worth a look.

Rhona I, March 2002

Extremely funny, don't let his TV appearances put you off as I had. I was dreading sitting through a support act of his because I'd found him highly irritating and not at all funny on TV, how wrong I was! I was ending myself laughing, he's brilliant.

Alison, February 2002

This guy should go far - he is definitely a genius! I have never seen an act quite like it and his performance on the Live Floor Show was brilliant. If he is on at a venue near you then you have to check him out - you won't be disappointed.

Logan, February 2002

Absolutely fantastic. Don't think I've ever seen anyone as uniquely entertaining as Des.

Ann Curtis, February 2002

Saw him on TV last night and thought he was brilliant.

Kiane Thomson, February 2002

Really disappointing.

Fred Evans, January 2002

Go and see this man. Fast, furious and fantastic, you will wet your pants with laughter.

Dougie Robison, January 2002

Saw him live recently,and most of the room were laughing a lot, but I found his whole stuttery spluttery delivery really annoying after about 5 minutes of the bloody thing.

Stu, January 2002

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4