Lloyd Langford at Chortle's Fast Fringe

Clip from 2009 Edinburgh Fringe show

More Lloyd Langford videos

Winner of the Chortle student comedy award 2004; nominated for the Chortle best breakthrough award in 2008.

Lloyd Langford: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Assembly Rooms Fringe

What a great set-up. While the comedy scene is filled with stand-ups driving for complex, over-arching themes, mild-mannered Lloyd Langford has decided to ignore his relationship break-up, becoming homeless and mother falling ill to dedicate his full hour to the gripping odyssey of how he once ran out of bread and had to go to the shops for more.

‘A-ha!’ you may be thinking. ‘I expect this is the starting point for a number of surreal adventures in a magical world drawn from his inventive imagination.’

No. It really is an observational hour about his voracious housemate who consumed said loaf, the baffling choices in the bakery section and travelling by public transport to get there. When ‘…and so I got off the bus’ is the clichéd pull-back and reveal, ‘so I got on the bus,’ becomes the starting point for one of this amiably bemused Welshman’s shaggy-dog stories. ‘The bread that annoys me most at the moment…’ is another genuine premise.

It’s a hard call to make the mundane interesting and funny, and although Langford has a fair crack at it, he can’t quite succeed. Tellingly his best joke – and it’s a really good one, too  – has nothing to do with the yarn in hand, but concerns the National Anthem.

Langford of course digresses from his core stories, with discussions of face transplants – much of which feels like dated topical material – circumcisions and a stag do on a canal boat. This is hit and miss, and his no-frills delivery can either feel enjoyably natural or frustratingly low-energy, depending on whether the content alone is funny and engaging.

And therein lies the rub: there is no real disguising the fact these are five-to-seven minute routines drawn from a club repertoire ­– and with inconsistent quality, the hour feels bitty and unfulfilling, even if they are some great anecdotes contained within. His charming company goes far, but not all the way to the checkout.

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Have seen Lloyd many times (always been excellent) and saw him in Cardiff last Saturday - the boyo only improves with age!

Angela, May 2011

Lloyd played support to Rhod Gilbert at Eden Court Inverness,he went down a storm, with the Highland audience, he may play-act the stooge on TV's Ask Rhod Gilbert. A self-assured comedian stepped out onto the stage to enthusiastic applause and delivered some wacky surreal anecdotes gauging what a Highland audience might respond to. No need to worry, the applause said it all! The best opening act for a major comedy star at Eden Court this year.

Douglas Thomson, November 2010

Great comic. I've seen Lloyd twice now and have enjoyed both gigs. He has a certain charm about him and great stage presence. He's an extremely funny guy!

Rebecca, June 2010

Sheer genius. He can work a crowd and his attention to timing and detail wonderful. You're always welcome in Brighton

Michelle, November 2009

Just seen him in Maidstone, feel honoured to have him here, he was obviously trying out new material. I know he is good having seen him before but tonight was a bit tame yet still sharp and quick witted. I like this guy and know he will go far. Great night. My mate thought he was a bit tasty (Lloyd will understand)

Graham Fearon, June 2009

You are so clever it meks me ill. You made me laugh me gonads off even in a harsh envornment. Well done sexy! I loved the music references. The blues and hip hop stuff was so true I weeded myself.

Craig Andrews, June 2009

Never seen anything like the Krater crowd's reaction to the 'tent joke'. They were positively hysterical, and LL gave them what they wanted. It was off the hook!

Edward Moore, June 2008

Young, taller than you think and with wicked timing. Lloyd always delivers, good all round stuff, guaranteed to have everyone laughing. Keep it up Boyo!

Gregg, May 2008

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