Perhaps having no children is a bad starting point for watching Romesh Ranganathan. His material derives mostly from his experience with his wife and young sons.

However, the laddish approach to parenthood he proudly espoused throughout his show was obviously an attempt to resonate more universally with his audience. To an extent it worked, but merely as a low common denominator.

A lot of Ranganathan’s routine required ineloquent reassurance from the crowd, but these gags were mostly just a step up from pub humour. They got regular laughs but as inconsistent one-liners rather than the narrative he was trying to establish.

The routine peaked early with material about the awkwardness of being a vegan, his critical self-awareness providing several strong, laugh-out-loud moments.

Where Ranganathan excels is the physical side of his routine. The facial expressions he used to accentuate some of his jokes and stories were great and showed the hallmark of a comedian with excellent stagecraft. When he married this with his stronger material, it was more obvious why he was nominated for best show at this year’s Edinburgh festival.

If Ranganathan could push past the ease of laddish humour, he has the talent of delivery to suggest he could be an excellent comic.