Spencer Jones Presents The Herbert in Eggy Bagel

You know you're in for something a bit odd when the guy on stage is dressed like Frankenstein's monster had he escaped Lake Geneva in favour of a rave. Spencer Jones is emerging as one of the finest—and most committed—of prop comedians around. Last year's show, in which his alter ego The Herbert got himself a Proper Job, got a fair few nods – this one, Eggy Bagel, looks to do the same.

The Herbert is a genial host. As his old dad says: “Be nice”; and so he is. He's reminiscent of Tommy Cooper, fixed with a grin as everything about him is falling apart – not always intentionally. When things go wrong—which on this occasion they do a fair bit—it doesn't seem to faze him.

His props look like the abandoned, unsellable items at a jumble sale; he'd probably get a whole sitcom's worth out of a day at a car boot. But he must have an A-level in invention, as what he creates on stage you rarely see coming. Then he brings it all together with the backdrop of looping phrases against a backing track all made up on stage, to hypnotic effect.

This year too there's a lovely poignant undercurrent adding depth to the absurdity and making his on-stage persona even more loveable. His toddler son accompanies him, albeit played by a headless doll, and his dad pops up for a hint of back story and to feature in a slightly freaky portrait. Lovely.