On the back of the poor Simpsons episode, the patchy second series of Extras and all sorts of other celeb appearences at the Ivy, has Ricky undone all his good work? Or is he just showing he’s human? Afterall who would turn down Matt Groening or the future King of England when they come knocking?

The freedom of the stage combined with harsh lighting transformed O’Briain from the cuddly host of Mock the Week into an almost demonic looking redneck Celt. Machine gunning through the performance with a professional mania the excitable Irishman rattled from one story to another as if unable to stop even if he wanted to. Late in the gig he checked his watch and, realising he was now clashing with Reg. D. Hunter’s gig across site, promised to finish soon before effortlessly ploughing on for a further 20 minutes.

It is clear from watching him on stage exactly why he has enjoyed such televisual success in recent years, but it is also comedian’s curse – on more than one occasion I was familiar with his material. Even then O’Briain’s stage technique gave it a fresh quality.

Henry Widdicombe www.suchsmallportions.com 

In all there are seven Hayite rounds of applause, for anti-Blair, anti-Bush, anti-Littlejohn rants, and the smugness does at points become a bit stifling in the crowded tent in the middle of Wales. But beyond this Brigstocke is charming, interesting and original; everything the Hay crowd would like to think they are (but aren’t).

He’s taken on a harder edge recently, whether it’s a reaction to the state of the world or a career move it doesn’t matter, he has more bite and that can only be a good thing. Of course he hasn’t become some sort of corduroy-clad Bill Hicks but he comes across as one of the few comedians peddling political material because he actually cares and his act makes you think far more than a lecture from AA Gill or Simon Schama ever will.

Josh Widdicombe www.suchsmallportions.com

Festival line-ups are all about balance and it’s easy to see why Kendall made the bill. Her jape-by-numbers routine offers a soothing brain balm to an audience exhausted from the day’s programme of political debate and literary sparring. However, for those of us too stupid to even feign an interest in the ‘meat’ of the festival, her patter is so much candy floss – sticky, sweet and as light as air.

There is one fantastic moment when someone in the audience gets up to go to the loo. Kendall does the obligatory “don’t go, it’ll get better” bit until the loo-leaver gets to the door, then she hisses “Aren’t we glad she’s gone? I couldn’t believe she came, can you?” It’s both spiteful and conspiratory and for a fleeting moment we join the intelligentsia in roaring along to her observational wit.

For rest of the time we’re plagued by the feeling that this is one of the rare occasions at Hay that ssp will be the authority on something. And we’re supremely confident in our knowledge that, despite what these fiercely intelligent people may think, Sarah Kendall is just no good.

Henry Barnes – live editor at www.suchsmallportions.com

In the end, the final episode was just more of the same. Mark and Sophie’s wedding was predictably disastrous, while Jeremy pissed himself. That was about it. This series has been a bit Mitchell-heavy throughout with Robert Webb restricted to playing bit parts as the vacuous Jeremy. It’s a disservice to Webb who, although maybe not as funny as David Mitchell, puts in a brilliantly desperate performance as Jeremy which deserves more screen time. Perhaps now the “el dude brothers” are set to be reunited in series five, the problems we have seen over the past six weeks will be remedied.

Josh Widdicombe – editor www.suchsmallportions.com

Anyway, when we get a copy of the show, where Josh and I pimped SSP ourselves for all we’re worth (how much is that?), we’ll put it on a podcast or something.

Thanks to all who listened – the multimedia comedy takeover is nigh.

georgie x