Mark Thomas has been a thorn in the side of authority for many years and long may he continue to be so.

His new stand-up show is triumph and a genuine must-see show that will make you think as much as it will make you laugh.

Most people will know him from his Channel 4 show, The Mark Thomas Product, in which he plays videos of himself asking various authority figures awkward questions they would rather not answer and links them all together with his stand-up.

He left the video screens behind and went back to basics to deliver an engaging and funny night with tremendous warmth.

His first hour focused on the war on terror and the Iraqi crisis.

He deftly brought humour to the situation while pointing out the madness and hypocrisy behind it.

The second hour was made up of anecdotes about various direct actions he had been part of. Here his skills as a raconteur came to the fore - he is one of the most gripping comics I've ever seen.

He loves what he does so much, you can't help but get carried away by his enthusiasm.

It's a testament to his performance skills that no one seemed to notice this was a work in progress.

The show felt really fresh because he was workshopping new material for a new show next year.

One of the most striking things about the show was the audience's thirst for and enjoyment of comedy with substance and weight.

It lapped up every moment, laughing at the jokes and listening intently as the background was explained.

Most comics are there to entertain (which, after all, is what they're getting paid for) and the vast majority of what comes out of their mouths is lies.

It was a refreshing and uplifting experience to hear someone tell the truth and, at the same time, entertain and inform.

With the absence of any real opposition party at the moment, comedians such as Thomas - along with Jeremy Hardy and certain sections of the media - are the only ones holding the authorities to account.

It's a shame Thomas won't stand for election. I would vote for him.

Mark Thomas returns to Komedia on Tuesday November 26, at 7.30pm.