A masterclass in being Frank

by Richard Priest

Comedian Frank Skinner left a sold-out audience at Shanklin Theatre crying out for more, after a comedy masterclass weaving inventive and insightful observations, and audience engagement.

His 90 minute+ set included memories of visiting the doll museum in Brading, seeing an advert for a wreath-making workshop that may be of interest to the demography of the audience, and the ‘internet fact’ that Shanklin, where he had been shopping earlier in the day, was the second most dangerous place on the Island.

He covered topical issues such as Greg Wallace, being in demand for TV documentaries and not TV stand-up, his thoughts on Naked Attraction, and how Cristiano Ronaldo got his ‘6-pack’. A segment on musicals involved a joke about Philip Schofield that raised the roof, and he had regular discussions with front-rowers Bette and Jed – who he encouraged to set up their own podcast. A standing ovation brought him running back on stage for an encore, saying he was worried that he had mistaken applause for the sounds of the seats closing up, and finished with a story about Covid and global warming deniers, having read about 15 deniers on the side of a hosiery packet.

Leaving the audience grateful that he found time on his ’30 Years of Dirt’ tour to visit Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight not Isle of Man. they were still smiling about Prince George always singing his song when he watches England play. Frank teamed up with David Baddiel and band, The Lightning Seeds, to release the football anthem, Three Lions (It’s Coming Home), reportedly a favourite of the youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales.