Pierre Novellie is Mighty Peter @ Pleasance Courtyard

Imagine the Jolly Green Giant being so delighted with his maize harvest that he can't help chuckling to himself. Now set that image in a bunker, and say hello to all six foot four of Pierre Novellie. Hopefully, this hasn't terrified you.

It's refreshing to see an act that doesn't over-egg the self-deprecation or attempt to convince us of great incompetence. Novellie just seems glad to be here; a beaming, happy chap delivering observational stand-up in a conversational tone that makes it easy to forget he's doing all the talking. From South Africa, Novellie is sometimes promoted for a kind of fish-out-of-water take on Britain. This is true to an extent, but he's been a British citizen for over a decade, was in the Cambridge footlights and, as he himself puts it, has a 99% understanding of British social etiquette – though much of this was through the prism of growing up on the Isle of Man where he says he was a local landmark.

There's good material in his search for that missing 1% but it's his wry look back towards South Africa, his archaic knowledge of medieval Welsh law and obscure Downfall references that are memorable. This list might pitch him as slightly nerdist; but this is misleading. His delivery is so down-to-earth he can speak about racism or politics and rouse less contention than when he explains why he hates maths. The Saturday night crowd are convinced. He'll also tell you the translation of The Lion King's opening number. Book ahead.