Simon Amstell: Do Nothing - Live

Good news for anyone who wanted to beat up Simon Amstell for being smug and sarcastic on Buzzcocks: in this show, he does the job for you. Do Nothing is an hour long existential crisis in which Amstell explores his loneliness and inability to enjoy life.

That doesn't sound like much of a pitch for a show, except that Amstell is a gifted comedian, mixing genuine insight with lethal jokes like a British Woody Allen or a sober Dylan Moran. There's a story of sorts running through the show, as he searches for happiness and his ideal man (a cross between Jesus and Jared Leto). On the way, he seduces the children of his fans, stalks young actors, worries that his bathroom has too many sinks and develops one of comedy’s most unlikely catchphrases.

It's not surprising that Amstell is as clever as he is, but it is a little shocking to see him so vulnerable and honest. This show announces him as a serious comic talent and is essential viewing for everyone.