If I’ve learnt anything this week, it’s that going to see comedian Micky Flanagan when you are already nursing an injury to your ribs is an extremely painful, but thoroughly enjoyable, experience.

One thing is for sure, by the time Flanagan had finished his show at Watford Colosseum on Monday night, I wouldn’t have been the only person present whose sides were hurting.

Flanagan delivers a brand of observational humour that could be compared to the 'bloke down the pub' who’s been there, seen it and done it. But vitally, he can see the funny side of it all.

From growing up in the East End, to being a grown up with a wife and kid, Flanagan offered up a hilarious view of life from a Cockney-lad’s perspective.

No subject was off limits for the stand-up, who was frequently no-holds barred but never blue enough to truly offend.

He also possesses what must be the holy-grail for stand-ups – the ability to make an audience laugh by doing very little. Just a few strides of his "Cockney walk” was enough to send most into fits of laughter.

At the beginning of the show Flanagan promised us we’d be out by 10pm. But he overran by half-an-hour and even then appeared as reluctant as his audience to leave. Remarkable when you consider he is just a handful of dates away from completing more than a hundred shows since January, and a clear indication of why he is currently at the top of his game.

Hywel Jones