Steffen Peddie: Best Intentions @ Glasgow Comedy Festival, 23 March

Review by Chris Tapley | 27 Mar 2013

On a bleak and cold Friday night Steffen Peddie manages to create a warm atmosphere for the few of us who have abandoned the crowds of frustrated football fans occupying the rest of the city centre. It's also fair to note that those events elsewhere have probably depleted the crowd for Peddie, best known as 'Big Keith' from BBC sitcom Hebburn.

On stage he has the demeanour of a social club stand-up with no pretenses, even proclaiming at the top of the hour that there's nothing ground-breaking or clever here, just some funny stuff that's happened to him. That's what he delivers as well, with entertaining tales from his time as an overweight youngster in Camp America and his accidental adventures in dogging being particular highlights.

His occasional forays into audience participation are good natured and demonstrate a sharp improvisational mind, although tonight’s sparse and attentive audience doesn't exactly lend itself to much interaction. There is plenty of strong observational material here, but also a few disappointingly obvious gags and the show could definitely do with tightening up a little. Peddie's demeanour is far too jovial to judge his act harshly for these though, and he regularly gets away with acknowledging the silent response before moving on.

Part of his act touches on his beginnings in stand-up at the tender age of fifteen, and this experience shows with his natural and comfortable presence on stage. Best Intentions is consistently engaging and amusing if only occasionally hilarious, overall a thoroughly enjoyable hour – and far less stressful than watching Scotland play. [Chris Tapley]

Run ended http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/shows/#!/shows/567