one4review | On 08, Aug 2014

Jason Cook may be best known to a lot of people as the creator and writer of, and as Ramsey in, the BBC2 series Hebburn but for many, many years Jason has been a top class stand-up and it is good to see him returning to Fringe 2014 with another offering.

The shown title Broken refers to the fact that the pressure of the Hebburn years have literally left him a broken man and that he has been saved by his wife and daughter. But there is still a big kid inside there which occasionally gets out.

Jason Cook is a genuinely nice and funny guy. I am not alone in thinking this as his sell-out show will testify, and they were not disappointed in this genial Geordie. A lot of the material was around the aftermath of the long hours and stress around the TV series and the ensuing medical care but his family and holidays, in particular Centre Parcs feature quite a lot too, not to mention his pretentious new neighbours.

Cook is an engaging comic, a born raconteur who can play an audience like an expert angler, hooking them in on his charm and wit and an hour spent in his company is an absolute pleasure.

Reviewed by Geoff

Pleasance Queen Dome

17.40 to 18.40

*****