Review by Steve Bennett

Jo Caulfield puts the chatty, gossipy style she has perfected to brilliant effect in this breezy and funny show.

For large parts of the hour she strays away from the scripted stand-up into mostly spontaneous audience banter, demonstrating a lightening-fast wit and deft comic touch.

It is obvious that she's a long-time Graham Norton collaborator, as she quizzes the audience about their childhood hopes or how they lost their virginity in near-identical manner to the 'shiny poof off the telly'.

Caulfield has a similarly open approach, exuding an aura of mocking but friendly humour that makes even the most reticent of punter willing to confide.

It's even more remarkable given that for her stand-up sections, Caulfield relies on quite a selfish, disdainful stance that might be considered bitchy, were it not presented with such natural, conversational elan, disguising the cynicism beneath.

It's endearing because, despite the underlying superior attitude, the observations are delivered in a confessional 'I know I'm bad for thinking this, but' way, rather than with any trace of a cocky sneer.

She admits she has no comedy message and that she will mostly talk about herself - but rarely is such insubstantial fluff so funny, as Caulfield makes even the most basic of audience banter sparkle. A real comedy natural.

Review date: 1 Jan 2002
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett