Fresh from his victory on Strictly Come Dancing, Chris McCausland brought his latest stand-up show, Yonks, to The Alexandra, Birmingham, on Sunday evening. As he himself put it, ‘21 years of hard graft on the UK comedy scene, to now be best known for dancing’. 

Stand-up was where McCausland began his comedy career, and while his profile has been raised in recent years thanks to appearances on, amongst other shows, Have I Got News For You, it is surely his star turn on Strictly that has brought him his current level of fame. 

Judging by the audience, many present this evening had bought tickets on the back of the BBC’s beloved dance show; McCausland even apologised to those who had done so, presumably in case their expectations had not been met, but it’s difficult to imagine that anybody would leave the theatre feeling let down. McCausland is a natural entertainer and a joy to listen to. He moved on quickly from giving a brief insight into his dancing career, but not before telling us that, during four exhausting months in the rehearsal room, returning to his original career (ie. sitting down and telling jokes) was what he dreamt of doing.

McCausland’s mischievous style is infectious, and it’s impossible not to be carried along as he tells tale after tale. There’s the occasional nod to his celebrity lifestyle, and encounters with more than one high-profile name are dropped into the set, but the majority of his material is based on more mundane, relatable events. Growing up in the 1980s, studying a now-obsolete degree in computing and time spent in his local pub all provide fertile ground for his stories. Those who studied French at school cannot fail to empathise with his experience of the GCSE speaking test. And while we may not have experienced being invited to appear at the Royal Variety Performance, his recollection of a conversation with the ITV producers must surely strike a chord in anybody who has ever been somewhat bewildered by the rules about what counts and does not count as acceptable to say in this day and age.

A naturally funny man and a born raconteur, McCausland is somebody you could listen to all day. He makes stand-up comedy look effortless, and his evident joy in being on stage is contagious. It is still early days for this current tour, but McCausland deserves to play to sell-out crowds. Those who buy a ticket for his show are in for a treat.

Five stars

Reviewed by Rachel Smith at The Alexandra, Birmingham, on Sunday 26 January.

Chris McCausland returns to the Midlands later this month to play Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Thursday 30 January; Dudley Town Hall, Saturday 10 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Monday 12 - Wednesday 14 May; The Regal, Evesham, Sat 17 May; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 23 May; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Monday 6 & Tuesday 7 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 7 November & Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa on Sat 8 November.