THE usual comedy club stand-up routine consists either of a compere introducing a handful of acts or a warm-up act before the main attraction. Mike Gunn and Sean Collins do things a little differently.

The pair act as warm-up/ compere for each other, each taking a few minutes to interact with the audience before introducing the other’s half-hour set.

Both these comedy veterans have appeared on television’s The Comedy Show and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and are skilled at working an audience – finding the front-row targets or the louder audience members sat further back.

The reward from this tactic is multiplied when the duo team up in the final section of their show, in which each must carry on a subject where the other left off – often a subject which would struggle to make the cut in even the latest of TV shows.

Canadian Collins made me laugh louder, particularly when he got close to draining the pitcher of beer lubricating his performance, but Gunn, too, was sharp and cleverly reactive, with both humble enough to donate drinks or CDs to those unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of their most cutting observations and comments.

Still on the Roadshow continues in Bristol this weekend – details on stillontheroadshow.com