Larry Dean: Out Now!

Sometimes an hour of standup comedy can just stand out as a fresh voice in the crowd. Skilfully dropping punchlines in his machine-gun Glasgow patter, Larry Dean delivers a personal show about coming out as gay to his friends, his family, and his audience – like a new friend discovered.

This is a mirth-filled show, shot through like a stick of rock with good nature and funny stories. A charming sexual odyssey, Dean's history is vividly painted with an easy, engaging wit. His attempts at heterosexual assimilation manages to be both graphic and endearing, with a zinger of a metaphor for the male orgasm. His familial coming out is told with sensitivity and a light touch that is consistently sharp and entertaining. He also exploits, to great comic effect, the fact he "does't look gay", and what that might actually mean.

There may be other comedians who relate tales of coming out, but that Dean goes that little bit deeper, shares that bit more and takes the time to fully set the scene (his Roman Catholic family, made up of posh Scottish mum, quieter manly dad, and "difficult" brother) pays off beautifully. Out Now! is so deeply Dean's own story of late blooming it still holds remnants of his wonder, and tinges of sadness at how it has turned out so far. No mean feat.