Toulson and harvey

The two men who climb onto the stage are Luke Toulson and Stephen Harvey. Beyond that nothing else is certain. The distinction between fantasy and reality is smudged as the duo embark on a series of sketches in which they largely play themselves, giving audience members false identities. Astonishingly, this works rather well.

So, a middle aged man in the front row becomes the adulterous wife of a Spanish folk singer and a teenager is transformed into a marine biologist from Helsinki. Toulson ends up hosting newsnight and accompanying Gordon Brown as he sings to the nation while Harvey gets sacked for getting drunk before their big Wembley gig. There are not really any jokes or killer lines to pick out, the enjoyment comes almost entirely from the duo themselves who are consumate performers, having honed their relationship over the past few years. This is the kind of comedy which never sounds as funny when you repeat it yourself.

While the pair's grasp on truth and lies is less than secure, their grasp on a sizeable chunk of awards nominations is solid and well deserved. The material has changed since last year but the performance is as hilarious as ever. Just try not to sit in the front row or you may find yourself transformed into someone entirely different.