one4review | On 10, Aug 2017

Gráinne Maguire is a bouncy, friendly compere, who has assembled a panel of comics to explain why we should care about their news story, all the while not assuming too much topical knowledge. She describes it as a show “for people who mean to read the news.”

Our guests were the quick-witted Jenny Bede, the quirky Helen Duff, and the token male on the panel, Tez Ilyas… I kid you not – a panel show where the women outnumbered the men! And the world didn’t end. Or if it did, I was too busy laughing!

Courtesy of YouGov polls, we worked out how in touch the panel were with what young Brits are thinking – the panel were more optimistic than right, and learned a lot from the Daily Mail readers comments section.

The tricky decision came down to which topical story we cared most about, from the panel’s choices. Their options were less varied than I’d have liked, but that can happen when panelists make their own choices – and it is, after all, live comedy.

Finally, the panel needed to answer the audience’s pre-written questions, while Maguire Paxmaned them. Yes, that is a real word now.

A fun way to spend an hour, but no guarantees that you’ll come out any the wiser about how to solve world debt, Trump, or Brexit. It makes a relaxing change!

****
Reviewed by Gill
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
12:30 – 13:30
Until 27th (not 15th)