This weekend the fortunes of two of the country’s biggest comedians felt very different. As Russell Brand faced allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied, Ricky Gervais continued a sell-out run at the Palladium. Life looks good for Gervais. Last week he received official confirmation that his Armageddon show at the Hollywood Bowl in May broke the record for a single stand-up performance, grossing over £1.4 million.
The lengthy world tour has now reached London. It is certainly no major gear change for the co-creator of The Office. Instead it is Gervais gleefully circling around familiar taboos. The nature of offence, religion, the holocaust. There are lines that make you gasp at their darkness (paedophilia, lots of it), lines that make you guffaw at their childishness (the difference between snails and slugs). It’s the ultimate mixed bag.
