Despite feeling poorly after scoffing down a fish pie containing too much chilli the night before, Daniel Kitson was nevertheless on top form.

The shabbily-dressed, NHS specs-wearing funnyman, who was awarded the Perrier award in 2002, seemed happy to let his minimal material fall by the wayside as he spent an inordinately long set chatting away to the audience.

Giving life advice to a 14-year-old boy, talking down a rather posh heckler and discovering how long it takes to be served a gin at the Pavilion Theatre bar were among the tangents that served to distract Kitson from his storytelling.

But then, that's the strength of this wonderfully amiable comedian.

A master of improvisation, he merely has to open his mouth and something uproariously funny comes pouring out.

This, combined with a welcome self-deprecating manner and endearingly sensitive side, marks him out as one of the funniest comics on the circuit.

Daniel Kitson will be at the Pavilion Theatre again on Saturday at 11pm. For tickets, call 01273 709709.