Since winning the BBC New Comedy Award for Stand-up five years ago, Alan Carr has become one of Britain's hottest young comedians - as was endorsed by his sell-out show at Epsom Playhouse on Sunday.

Carr, co-presenter of Channel 4's The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins, camped it up like mad and poked fun at almost everything. This included his gay lifestyle and dwelt on what a disappointment he had been to his dad when Alan failed to continue the family tradition by refusing to become a footballer.

Both Alan and his fellow performer John Richardson, who did an amusing 30-minute stint, reflected upon a series of well observed situations without telling actual jokes. By that, I mean there was nothing you could actually repeat to your workmates the next day and get a belly laugh with a single punchline.

But the great thing about Carr is his larger-than-life personality and his warm relationship with his audience. He singled out certain audience members, but, unlike namesake Jimmy Carr, the master of the put-down, he did not rip them apart. Instead, he gently mocked them in a way they could enjoy themselves. It was infectious!

Perhaps he should have called a halt slightly earlier, however, because the material was getting a bit thin towards the end of this two-and-a-quarter-hour marathon of mirth.

Epsom Playhouse is getting a reputation for attracting top comedians, with Joe Pasquale appearing on November 15 and Marcus Brigstocke on November 27.