THE strapping Yorkshireman in a dress and pink cowgirl hat was always going to attract attention and compere Dan Nightingale had him clocked before taking to the stage.

Turns out, unsurprisingly, that James, from Tadcaster, was on a stag do.

What set the tone for the evening though was when it emerged that the group on the next table, also on a stag do, was from rival cross-Pennine county, Lancashire.

Nightingale, who started his comedy career in Newcastle as a sound man at the Hyena, assessed the tenor of the audience perfectly.

This was a crowd that needed no cajoling and Nightingale's easy quick wit set us up for a good night.

First act Nick Revell went down well.

He has written for comedy shows on television and radio and top flight comics such as Jasper Carrott and the late Dave Allen.

His low-key style seems naturally more suited to broadcasting, but he is also a wry stand up.

Revell won over the audience with his impersonations of Yorkshire folk responding with true grit to the sight of their floodruined houses ("Ah, well") as opposed to the wailing hysteria of New Orleans.

Australian Steve Hughes is a bit like a hairy antipodean Bill Hicks and his act became more subversive and filled with conspiracy theories as he went on - and on.

Unlike the compere, the headliner did not engage the audience or read the mood that was clearly upbeat and vibrant.

He stuck to his well-rehearsed rant, which punctured the party atmosphere somewhat and James, from Tadcaster, got off quite lightly.