Michael McIntyre, O2 Arena - review

It is a paradox of modern stand-up that to be uniquely successful everybody has to be able to relate to your experiences. And they do not come more uniquely successful than Michael McIntyre, who opened his 10-night O2 residency with universal humour that may not bring down the government but certainly brought down the house.

The Londoner can probably pay someone to sort out his problems, but he was still able to tap into familiar irritations. How do you remember your umpteen online passwords? Why do we get so stressed when someone does not reply to a friendly text? Being a multi-millionaire clearly does not necessarily make one less neurotic. McIntyre was particularly pithy when he got personal. What couple cannot recognise his wife’s demands that he puts dirty dishes in the dishwasher, not “in the zone” around it? What father cannot see himself in the longing for school holidays to end: “We’ve been to the zoo so many times the animals recognise us.”

He entertains his young sons by pulling their pants down unexpectedly and even though the punchline is obvious it tickles the funny bone.

His Olympics riff felt dated and his Jubilee jokes felt antique, although his image of the Queen dancing to Grace Jones’s Slave to the Rhythm will linger in the memory. Weaker moments were boosted by his physicality, whether impersonating the dressage or re-enacting a tortuous dental experience. Not a show that will scare the horses, but lots more fun than pulling teeth.

Until Oct 6. Also Nov 28-Dec 3, Wembley Arena (0844 844 0444, ticketmaster.co.uk)