The vacant seats – filled with audience members earlier in the evening – when Phill Jupitus’s act entered its third part were a clear sign that not everyone was impressed with his latest show.

At the end there was an explanation for the puzzling performance, which saw him on stage with grey hair and a matching beard playing a thespian, then a German U-boat captain and finally himself, after his death several decades in the future.

Keen to bring the fun of Buzzcocks to the stage, he invited questions from the floor which shaped the improvised show.

Inevitably, it was a slow start but there were a couple of titters along the way. Desperate to find the comedian funny, the audience laughed along for a while.

The funniest part of the show was watching Jupitus struggling to stay in character while in hysterics – “I’m sorry I’m laughing, but it’s the first time I’ve heard this too.”

He wasn’t helped by screaming profanities at the poor fans who dared to heckle. Bordering on bullying, he suggested they sit up in the bar or shout at the TV if they wanted their own show. This toe-curling reaction seemed to indicate a man who’d simply had enough.

It was an original idea, intentions were good and the costumes were well thought through. It’s just a shame the concept didn’t work.