BEST known as a regular panellist on comedy shows such as Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, Ed Byrne took York by storm on Sunday night with his dry observational comedy.

“I’m more of an observer than a participator,” Ed begins by explaining the title of his stand-up show, Outside Looking In. Indeed, Ed manages to turn the most mundane everyday stories into imaginative anecdotes which keep the audience chuckling throughout.

Rather ironically, the comedian ignites audience interest by looking back at the less glamorous times in his career. He recalls corporate events where his jokes have fallen flat and he has “walked off stage to the sound of his own feet”. This was far from the case at the Grand Opera House, where the audience saw the hilarity of his past misdemeanours.

Byrne moves on to dating mishaps and blunders, but he’s met with a frustratingly little audience participation. Despite this setback, Ed manages to fill the gaps with his own witty anecdotes of his past shenanigans.

The comedian then darts between topics such as interviews with sports stars, dating apps and gruesome descriptions of his scatological problems, making the performance slightly disjointed, yet still with plenty of laughs along the way.

A strong final sketch involved Byrne’s sharp-witted observations of parenthood. The audience roared with laughter as he recounted reactions to his children’s behaviour in public.

Ending on a high, it’s evident the Irish comedian possesses the wonderful talent of injecting hilarity into the monotony of the everyday, and frankly it’s sublime to watch.

Review by Rebecca Elmer