As the star of Uncle and the most sympathetic character in the recent Channel 4 series Loaded Nick Helm knows a thing or two about drama. And it is this knowledge that is responsible for one of the darkest and most compelling introductions to any comedy show that I have ever seen.

I won’t give away what happens but it was the one part of this work in progress that was definitely 100% ready. As much as Nick is playing a character when he is on stage, you do get the feeling that if he had born in a slightly earlier era he would have much rather been on stage with a punk band than a mic stand.

His songs are funny, his audience interaction brilliant at keeping everyone on the edge of their seat and his spin on the BBC/Operation Yew Tree scandal is actually a really clever take on an over-saturated comedy subject. Some routines don’t quite work, though, and the final story about an overzealous sexual encounter doesn’t yet have a punchline. It’s a reminder we’re in try-out territory.

The sad truth is, however, that if you were to remove the word ‘c*nt’ from this set you would be cutting the run-time in half. It’s a great comedy skill to be able to use swear words effectively, whether to shock a room or a nail a joke… unfortunately, in the wrong hands, it can also just be a lazy filler. Only the finished show will tell us which type of clown Nick Helm is.

Clown Stars: (- unrated -)

 @Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh