Geoff Norcott: Conswervative

When you view yourself as the lone comic voice for conservative politics in a sea of liberal peers (and audiences), it must be tricky to avoid developing a seige mentality – an insulated mindset of contrarian smugness. Geoff Norcott handles it with aplomb though, shouldering the responsibility (and it really is a responsibility) of repping the right and having fun with it too. 

Conswervative acts out a sort of apologetics anthology for all things Tory, although he adds a few self-aware caveats just for precaution ("I'm a cunt with a small C"). It is worth noting that he embeds his partisan bias subtly as part of a wider comic perspective, one that's objectively funny regardless of your leanings. It's anecdotal humour with the intent of explaining how his views developed, rather than a brash policy manifesto followed by some stories that go along with it. One of the sources of his anti-leftism is his working class upbringing, which lends him a more original perspective on social issues.

He's razor sharp on the draw with his punchlines, plucking zingers from nowhere. There is a bit of irony as his anti-comedic-establishment views rub up against his very TV-friendly style – perhaps if he were left-wing his act would lose a lot of its novelty, but as it is it's a refreshing change-up. He even opens the mic up to "liberal heckles" halfway through (alas, there are none at this performance). He's prodding his political enemies with a stick, taunting them into reacting, and it's a treat to watch.