This review first appeared in the Evening Standard here.

Where would Marcus Brigstocke be without issues? His last set explored his food addiction, this time it is a more wide-ranging mix of mid-life angst and heartbreak. Luckily for us his misery-mining makes for excellent entertainment.

The show is called Why The Long Face? because, apart from the fact that the Radio 4 stalwart does have a lengthy, Easter Island statue visage, he knows that he should not have much to complain about. He is a straight, white man. A winner in life’s lottery. If only things were that simple.

After a few potshots at NutriBullet users he works his way towards the meat of the matter — his marriage split and the perils of finding love in one’s forties. His honesty is refreshing and stays just the right side of indulgent. The gags come thick and fast as he riffs on his version of the seven ages of man, wondering if it is all downhill after toddlerhood. 

This unapologetically middle-class comic is a trouper who can put a fresh spin on overheated topics from Ukip to Tinder, suggesting the latter’s slogan should be “I’m hideous, but I’m close.” Brigstocke used to be known for his satire, but this recent confessional detour suits him. Long face, not short on laughs.

More Marcus Brigstocke live dates here.