HEADLINE act Colin Cole is a big hitter in his Australian homeland and it's not surprising with his gigantic 6ft 7in stature.

Cole has an imposing stage presence and clearly works out because he is built like a brick outhouse with a wrist bigger than my thighs.

The crowd was almost terrified into laughing and it was a very brave man at the front who questioned Cole's sexuality when he was picked on.

His material tends to be that of the archetypal Aussie larrikan with jokes about sex and the difference of between men and women playing a major part. The act also focuses on his job in stand-up and the hardships, such as staying in hotels and air travel, that go with it.

Unusual for a modern comic was his use of props such as an oxygen mask for comedic effect but they worked quite well. Some of his deliberate pauses and funny facial expressions had an air of the late Tommy Cooper about them.

The first act, Simon B Cotter, had just arrived after a 22-hour journey from his native Canada where he is relatively well known.

It was hard to tell whether he was deadpan or dead tired because his delivery was kind of laboured but the audience warmed to him when he got into gear.

His material was a bit American sit-commy and focused on his comfortable married life to a German woman but was inoffensive and endearing.