From Chris Moyle's Comedy Empire

BBC Three, June 2012

More Mark Watson videos

A former Cambridge Footlighter, Mark Watson first made an impact on the comedy circuit in 2002 when he won the Daily Telegraph Open Mic competition andwas a runner-up in So You Think You're Funny?

He has become known for his Edinburgh shows (2005's 50 Years Before Death And The Awful Prospect Of Enternity was nominated for the Perrier) and his gruelling shows that last more than 24 hours. Perrier's successor, the if.comeddies, awarded the panel award for best capturing the spirit of the fringe, in 2007.

Watson won the Chortle award winner for innovation in 2005, when he was also nominated for best breakthrough act, and was nominated for best compere in 2007.

He is also a novelist, with his debut Bullet Points, published in 2003; has written for TV and in 2007 landed his first radio series, Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better.

Minkley’s Night of Mirth 3
Live Review
Brighton Komedia

Ed Moore

It was a line-up many big charity benefits would envy – certainly enough to easily sell out Brighton’s Komedia.

Minkley’s Night of Mirth was the third such fundraiser in aid of The Samaritans and in memory of Oliver Minkley, a local musician and new-act comic who took his own life in 2010.

The biggest draw would surely have been Stewart Lee, here trying out material for the next series of his Comedy Vehicle on BBC Two. And if this set is anything to go by, he’s developing a more political edge, subjecting the party leaders and the entire system and its ‘illusion of dissent’ under the same intense, sarcastic scrutiny he’s previously applied to his fellow comics. Not that comedy itself escapes entirely, with the usual analysis of his own gags, and a typically iconoclastic attack on Bill Hicks, slaying a sacred cow many of his own followers will hold dear.

Lee was preceded by Rob Beckett, heavy on the ‘be lucky’ Sarf London patter, and ever-affable compere Ed Gamble, who couldn’t have been left in any doubt he was playing Brighton after engaging with one front-row punter who’s job was making windchimes, and another who worked in a chichi vegetarian coffee shop cutesily titled Wai Kika Moo Kau. [Why Kick A Moo Cow].

The second section was dominated by comedy hip-hop. Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, reimagining hits from the second summer of love with his ukulele and cut-glass accent proved the perfect entertainment for a crowd who surely still remembered those happy rave days, but now prefer to sit down for their nights out. Abandoman also featured, with their ever-crowd-pleasing improvised rap What’s In Your Pocket? and a mini-epic based on the lives of two audience members. The stand-up pastrami in this rap sandwich was Michael Fabbri, incredulously puzzled about how a world he doesn’t quite fit into, could possibly function. Smug grammar Nazis, ITV schedulers or unchivalrous pornographers are among those he just doesn’t quite understand.

Kicking off part three, Nick Helm, fresh from the announcement that he’s to star in his own BBC Three series, didn’t quite behave with the decorum that a representative of Her Majesty’s broadcaster should. Few are as expert at exposing the raw desperation of stand-up as him, barking his dubious jokes with such raw aggression right into the faces of the terrified front row, thirsting for their approval and even love. His typically full-on finale was a visceral overload that closing act Mark Watson, with his amiable commentary of life, found some difficulty in following.

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Absolutley brilliant, everyone was quite drunk when he came on, but he dealt with hecklers brilliantly, made me laught throughout his set, will definately see him again

Clara, January 2005

Earlier this year he filled in an extra half an hour as the headline act was delayed. He managed to keep it going marvellously well with the audience laughing like old friends. He came back at the start of December and did a wealth of new material. Very creative, good prescence, great timing. The closest thing I can get to as a criticism is that he seems a wee bit nervous. The guy's brilliant. See him; it'll be like getting two headline acts for the price of one.

Matt In The Hat, December 2004

Fantasic. A genuinely and naturally funny guy. The best.

Benie, December 2004

Genius. Dealt with a heckler with such skill, wit and aplomb. Had the crowd on his side immediately - rightly so. Fantastic.

Hannah, October 2004

Mark Watson's 24 hour show was one of the greatest shows (not just stand up) I have ever witnessed. His mind is so very fast - Kitsonesque but sweeter. Also his book is far too good for someome so young A genius who will acomplish much

Roisin, September 2004

Saw Mark in Torquay - a typically quiet and difficult audience. He was outstanding - I was dying half way through as he kept the laughter on a role and prevented me from breathing. His offbeat lines and brutal honesty make him the best stand up I have seen in a long time

Brown, May 2004

Saw him at Salford Uni. Was truly hilarious after main act was ill and he improvised for an hour and a half. A real natural. Very very funny guy indeed.

Alex Wilson, February 2004

A superb comedian, saved the day in salford by ad libbing nearly an hour of material.

Rozza, February 2004

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