Genius is a word that is bandied around too often. It is certainly not a word that is applicable to Eddie Izzard - but he comes damn close.

He fills the third criteria that every woman loves and every man wants to possess, he may not be the best looking man in the world and he isn't the cleverest but he is funny, very funny in fact, and that gift allows him to live up to the name of his current tour.

Walking on stage clad in a mini skirt, leather basque and a long frock coat, the cross-dressing funny man didn't disappoint as he mused about life, went off on wild tangents and came full circle with killer finishes in a style that is uniquely Izzard.

The self-confessed "action transvestite" took on Greek myths, the sounds of dentistry and the correct way to stop a shark from attacking (jabbing a finger in its nose), all the while looking fabulous.

Giving the capacity audience good value for money with a two-hour show (an interval allowed for a quick change into a little black number), Izzard proved why he is still one of the most exciting comics in the world.

Having been away from stand-up for a number of years to pursue TV and film projects, it would be fair to assume he had lost some of his sparkle but, while some jokes did fall flat, there were enough patented skewed observations to demonstrate his enviable comedic prowess.

Sometimes short on real belly laughs and predominantly made up of knowing titters, the audience's appreciation of Izzard lay in his ability to make everyone feel totally at ease with his bizarre outlook on life.

That's no mean feat when you've got a man in a dress talking about throwing cats out of moving vehicles in an attempt to replicate a police siren. But then, Izzard isn't your usual funny man.

After all, how many grown men do you know that can flounce about on stage in fishnet stockings and still look Sexie?