BBC Comedy On The Fringe 2011

With Kerry Godliman

More Chris Ramsey videos

Chris Ramsey was a finalist in the2008 Chortle Student Comedy Award and a finalist in the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award the following year.

He was a member of The Comedy Zone showcase at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival, performing his debut solo show at the 2010 Fringe.

Chris Ramsey: Aggrophobic
Live Review

Chris Ramsey suffered a terrible infestation during this weekend performance. His intimate gig was veritably awash with twats: the drunken South African who rocked up five minutes late and assumed the rest of the audience had just been waiting for his self-important braying; the weak-bladdered punter who couldn’t last more than 15 minutes into the show without needing a piss, causing great disruption as he left; and most shamefully the man who not only forgot to switch his phone off, an understandable error, but also chose to answer it and conduct a conversation from his seat, just as the show was reaching its climax.

Although Ramsey’s an experienced club compere who took most of this in his stride, this last interruption was the final straw, and he snapped at the unforgivably rude punter who he angrily – and rightly – ejected.

Had his irritation not been so palpable, this tetchy exchange could almost have been mistaken for a set-up – and perhaps he missed a theatrical trick here – as Ramsey’s entire debut show revolves how he hates confrontation, especially with drunks. So you can imagine how rattled he must have been to risk a showdown.

Idiots aside, this is a solid show from an engaging stand-up, proving he can hold his own for an hour for the first time with tales of intimidating encounters on the street or in the pub. But entertaining though these are, as a show it’s lacking that special substance or spirit needed to elevate it above the level of an extended stand-up set.

The situations that this upbeat South Shields lad describes are familiar, perhaps over-familiar, ones: the Jeremy Kyle show, people talking in cinemas, comebacks you think of too late, embarrassing childhood photos, the use of the word ‘gay’ to mean anything bad… It’s comedy verité; an accurate portrayal of real-life incidents, effectively told with charm and charisma, even if there’s not much substance at their heart.

Ramsey imposes an episodic structure on the stand-up, categorising each story on a scale of aggro from ‘social heckling’ through passive-aggressive behaviour and ultimately physical danger, while adroitly employing call-back techniques as another way of helping sustain momentum for the hour.

Indeed, he’s such a fluid, effortless presence that achieves that aim with ease, despite the best efforts of the ignorantly disruptive. If only he could back that up with more significant material, he would be, in his own argot, champion.

Just watched this guy on "Russell Howard's Good News. Oh dear he is extremeley unfunny. Telling stories about Newcastle nightlife! Lazy predictable tut.

japers, August 2011

Chris, you were amazin on friday night on Comedy Rocks. I was in stitches and no other comedian can do thatexcept Russell Kane. Keep up the brill work

pamela, February 2011

Great comedian... very at ease with the audience... had to win them over as he was the warm up act but did so very well... was sad he didn't have longer. Look out for him he'll do well.

Ollie, January 2011

Have seen Chris three times now, first time four yrs ago. He's getting better and better. If you want to see a young,fresh, enthusiastic, witty, cheeky and warmly charming performer, who also happens to be really really funny.. Go see Chris , he will blow Ed Fringe wide open this year, just watch.

Dave gray, July 2010

Confident and witty, good improv with crowd, relaxed delivery. First rate

zack, July 2010

Chris filled in at Tuesday's XS Malarkey gig in place of a missing support act and was a big hit; probably eclipsing the headliner. I only recognised one bit from his recent appearance on the extended version of Russell Howard's Good News and it was more fun to see it done live anyway! Often scatological but with very good humour and certainly recommended.

Ben, June 2010