Alfie Moore: Viva Alf's Vegas

About two-thirds of the way through his show, ex-steelworker, policeman and former contestant on ITV's Show Me The Funny, Alfie Moore confesses that he nearly hired a director. The gag is that he gambled the money instead. But the joke is on the comedian and, at best, this is a coy admission that the narrative of his real-life gambling addiction tends to change direction more often than a riderless horse.

In trying to weave a story about his addiction into a wider take on the gambling industry's predatory habits, plus a tribute to his dad (who he tried to send to Vegas to see his beloved Elvis), Moore had his work cut out from the start. Fortunately the 49-year-old's efforts pay dividend in spite of this thanks, at times, to some very corny jokes but also to some sharp observations – for example the difference between bribery and lobbying (there isn't one).

Segues abound, however, and in many cases the focus is lost. The material itself is often instructive if not always amusing, particularly with regard to the psychology of gambling, down the to the colour scheme of the casino. There are lulls along the way as Moore regathers his train of thought and uncertainty sometimes clouds the faces in the front row. But Moore's ursine charm and authoritative delivery, a vestige of his days in the force, help him reach a poignant ending where the audience recognises and appreciates his attempt to blend the personal and political.