Just for laughs

As much as any British comic since Tommy Cooper, Tim Vine likes a gag. In fact, if you've ever received one of those e-mails of Cooper jokes, chances are you've read some of Vine's material passed off as the late great fez-wearer's.

At a gag rate of about ten zingers a minute, he's a Gold Coast for the Internet prankster. And a reliable resource for anyone after a no-messing night out.

Many of these jokes are terrible, of course. 'I'm not very good at magic - I can only do half of a trick. Yes, I'm a member of the Magic semi-circle.' Rubbish.

And yet, if you don't go for that one, there's another one a second later. And another, and another.

It's this sheer fluency that makes a Tim Vine gig so much more than the sum of its groan-worthy parts.

The brother of Radio 2/Newsnight presenter Jeremy Vine, and host of several game shows himself (Whittle and Fluke to name but two), Vine's biggest claim to fame is his regular role on ITV's The Sketch Show.

Don't let that show's patchiness put you off. Vine's joyfully victimless humour works best live, where his copious charm and plentiful patter can add up to more laughs than you've had all year.

Tonight until Sat, Soho Theatre And Writers Centre, 21 Dean Street W1, 9.30pm, £12 to £15, £10 to £12.50 concs (limited availability).

Tel: 020 7478 0100. www.sohotheatre.com Tube: Tottenham Court Road/Piccadilly Circus

Tim Vine - The Joke Machine Gun Tour