That's not a criticism, as I have nothing but praise for the Somerset-born funnyman.

Bailey, on a seven-date run at The Lowry, knows precisely how to gain - and maintain - the audience's attention.

A mixture of humorous chat and music is the perfect combination - and he excels at both.

His piece about the Large Hadron Collider, which sees Switzerland sucked piece by piece into a black hole: "Toblerone. Knives. Clocks. Residual antisemitism" was hysterical.

And an old joke that twins the Friends theme with scenes of tragic misfortune is now applied to bankers at Lehman Brothers.

His preview of the London Olympics in 2012, accompanied by music on his keyboard, had me in hysterics.

Bailey is also a master of improvisation, and he spent large chunks of the show responding to audience remarks.

His quips about instructions on painkillers alienating the middle classes: "Do not operate machinery?" - How about: 'Do not operate a cafetière", was met with vociferous laughter, too.

Bailey's show does not end like most comedian's shows, ie, just walking off to an applause.

He came back on three times - firstly with a bizarre, but funny range of songs, and then to introduce a silent film set that brings together everything he had talked - or sang - about during the gig.

SY

Everyone will love Quadrophenia

Quadrophenia at the Manchester Opera House

MARUADING teenagers causing havoc on the streets of Britain is nothing new.

Following in the footsteps of the rock opera Tommy, also written by The Who's Pete Townshend, Quadrophenia tells the story of disenfranchised youth Jimmy, who wants to break free from the constraints of a previous generation, still reeling from the war years.

Jimmy is a symbiosis of the four members of Townshend's band The Who: the romantic (John Entwhistle), the hard man (Roger Daltrey), the hypocrite (Townshend) and the lunatic (Keith Moon).

He is searching for a place to belong - and for the girl of his dreams.

George Maguire, Ryan O'Donnell, Jack Roth and Rob Kendrick as the four sides of Jimmy are all outstanding and carry Townshend's powerful songs across brilliantly.

Sydney Rae White as The Girl is equally good, and her belting rendition of the classic Love Reign O'er Me hit the high notes magically.

What holds it all together is the magnificent band, led by musical director Elliott Ware, as well as the energetic support cast.

Townshend always said that The Who's music and, in particular, Quadrophenia, was "the music of the frustrated and dissatisfied looking for some sort of musical panacea".

That statement says it all.

Mod music enthusiasts will like this stage version of Quadrophenia, but fans of The Who will simply adore the rip-roaring numbers and the halcyon days of the Mods and Rockers.