AS A former midlander who came to the capital seeking, erm, fame and fortune (which I'm yet to find) I can appreciate jokes on the north/south divide from both sides of the Watford Gap.

So I loved Manchester comic Danny Deegan's compere stint at Throgmorton Comedy Club, Bromley.

The newcomer may have been a tad nervous (compounded by an unrelenting, inhospitable jibes from the crowd) but he has exciting potential, strong, relatable gags and fine comebacks.

The awkward atmosphere aside, he set the standard for an interesting bill.

Sadly, some of female double-act Chambers & Nettleton's (more northerners) subtler material didn't wash. But, the pair interact with the crowd confidently and have great chemistry.

Blink and you'll miss an excellent gag about girls with catalogue debts.

The laughs barely dropped when unbilled guest Brendon Norten stepped up. There was no time for heckles during his quick-fire set which explored fail-safe Irish subjects such as religion, terrorism and sexual repression with a fresh and depraved twist.

Likeable, a little anarchic and cheekily self-depreciating, Brendan's too-short slot accidentally stole the show.

Not that headliner Alan Francis didn't do a fine job. The experienced Scot stand-up delved into some darker material but was most popular for his excellent accents (he does a fine Sean Connery and tipsy Roger Moore).

Throgmorton Comedy Club, Saturdays, 9pm. Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

For details on forthcoming line ups click here