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: The Cold Hard Fact's of Life
Live Review

One of stand-up's greatest challenges comes when a performer is obliged to perform in front of a crowd whose ability to enjoy the show has been compromised by hours of drinking. A fair proportion of the crowd swaying in front of Lloyd Langford tonight certainly looked as though they probably wouldn't remember too much of the entertainment on offer.

That's a shame as Langford put on a sparkling show, and those sober enough to remember their hour in his company enjoyed it enormously. It's a huge tribute to the Welshman's easy-going persistence that the same could also be said of the audience's inebriated constituency as he frequently reduced the whole room to helpless laughter.

To a certain extent, all Langford had to do was allow nature to take its course. This review shouldn’t be preoccupied with the audience's bad behaviour but it's worth noting the conduct of one couple to offer a measure of what the performer was up against. As they walked through the door five minutes late, they appeared slightly baffled to find a room full of people directing their attention to a man with microphone. They walked to the stage and shook his hand before taking seats in the front row. The bizarreness of this prompted loud cheers from the back of the room, which they acknowledged with raised fists. Langford skilfully worked their incoherent interruptions into his act until, after an unexpected period of silence, it was pointed out that their drunkenness had taken a different turn... the two of them had fallen into a alcohol-induced sleep despite the noisy mayhem that surrounding them.

But it was evident from the very start that this pair were more representative of the crowd than any comedian would want. The extent of the audience's Bacchanalian dislocation was made clear when a mention of Rebekah Brooks was met by shouts of ‘who's she?’ and it began to look worryingly as though it would be impossible to put on any kind of show.

Langford took it in his stride though and soon identified a strand of comedy that worked for the entire crowd. He moved away from News International and spoke instead about the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, slyly passing comment on American propaganda within a piece with the broad appeal required to engage those in the audience only just able to remember who Bin Laden was.

Now into his stride, Langford ranged through a variety of topics including the vagaries of Channel 4's programming schedule in Wales and the strange behaviour of his former colleagues in a loft insulation factory. Langford's casual demeanour makes his comedy seem effortless but he mines his experiences with marvellous skill and has managed to turn tales that might have seemed anodyne in less capable hands into stories that provide terrific comedy.

Langford's best material concerned the passive-aggressive attempts by various supermarkets to persuade him to put his shopping into a reusable bag. As ever, some of the best comedy is achieved by taking a common experience and distilling it into something that provides both recognition and hilarity, and Langford's description of his relationship with plastic bags produced howls of laughter.

The audience provided Lloyd Langford with a real test and he passed it with such aplomb that sober punters were left hoping that he might have to contend with a few drunks the next time they see him, because he took a difficult situation and turned it on its head. And in doing so, he managed to create an experience that seems likely to prove one of my highlights of the Fringe.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5