Jason Manford: First World Problems @ Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, 6 Dec

Naming a show after a hashtag is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it can make you seem ‘on trend’ and ‘down with the kids’; on the other, you’ve named a show after a hashtag. This is great for the marketing department, and arguably also for the comedian as he trawls social media with the use of a symbol to find comedy gold.

Not that Manford is guilty of that – more, he is guilty of not following the remit set out by his show’s title. Other than Manford explaining what a 'first world problem' is to those outside of Generation Meh, and then incorporating a ‘choose your own comedy set’ section in which the audience is asked to supply some of their own during the break, there's very little structure implied by the Twitter-friendly headline.

The show should perhaps instead be called ‘First Child Problems’, as Manford goes to great lengths to explain what it's like to have kids and the universal truths of child-rearing. A comedian's goldmine, the ‘kids say the darnedest thing’ spiel is tried and tested, sure to hit home with those that have managed to get a babysitter to be able to attend tonight's show – and Manford is indeed brilliant at scouring the mundane and the commonplace to find the bright and ridiculous underneath. A master of working class humour, even though his pay grade left that strata years ago, Manford can connect with anyone.

A comedian who knows his audience as well as he knows his craft, with perfect timing he can squeeze in bad jokes – and as long as he makes light of why they’re bad, the audience is with him. His comedy is a warm hug given by a kindly dinner lady; a reminder that everything will be okay; any risqué elements are acknowledged and apologised for. This is stand-up in its safest form – which is fine for some, but can leave others wanting more. Especially in the first world. [John Stansfield]