Grainne Maguire: Where Are All The Fun Places...

Grainne Maguire starts the show with one of the finest "Now I know what you're thinking..." gags ever written. In a way this sums up her whole show: an exceptional comedy mind battling with fairly banal observational topics. Maguire experienced regret early in life and has since been determined never miss out on anything. As a self-confessed dork, she finds us this still happens despite her best efforts and we're lead through her life story, touching on familiar subjects: relationships and jobs, neurosis and social awkwardness, and popular celebrities like Kate Middleton and Cheryl Cole.

While the structure feels familiar, there's a terrific comedic intelligence zipping about in the background, throwing out deft wordplay and stunning surrealism. Maguire's best bit is when she tells a really novel anecdote: pulling at the disco at the end of the Labour Party conference. There's a slight feeling of Maguire wanting to have her cake and eat it: to show off her intelligence while also trying to be a middle-of-the-road crowdpleaser. That shouldn't detract from the fact that this is a hilarious and entertaining hour, with Maguire herself the very personification of Irish charm. She's still in the "one to watch" category, but when she starts letting rip she'll become one not to be missed.