Matt Forde - The Lantern

Matt Forde is undeniably a politics nerd.  The former Labour Party adviser turned stand-up and TalkSport presenter clearly revels in all the minutiae of Westminster life, and consequently there are certain expectations of his audience as well. Anyone hoping to enjoy Forde’s show ‘24 Hour Political Party People’ should have a nodding familiarity with the habits of our would-be rulers to avoid being in for a generally incomprehensible evening.

Forde does not have the demeanour of a professional comedian.  With his crumpled suit and readily distracted delivery, he is more like the guy who has the whole bar in stitches at a Carphone Warehouse sales conference.  Yet the lack of a highly polished stage persona does not detract from his ability to keep an audience chuckling: he may ramble, but he doesn’t stumble in keeping the laughs coming.  With an accurate impressionist’s ear and an ability to walk the delicate tightrope between what will engage the politically informed and what is merely the preserve of the uber-geek, he is a war reporter from the frontline of British political combat.

A lot of his act focuses on politicians’ presentation: dissecting Ed Miliband’s hand gestures and idiosyncratic speaking style (his Miliband impression is both sadly accurate and surgically cruel), highlighting the gaping vacuity at the heart of everything David Cameron says, and spitting vitriol in the general direction of Nick Clegg.  But a commentary on the superficial is no bad thing during an election which seems to focus considerably more on style than substance.

Forde is also a master at audience interaction.  Whilst some comedians merely carry an armoury of putdowns to rid themselves quickly of the occasional interrupting punter, Forde engages happily and at length.  He has the likeable charm and fluent ad-libbing skills of a natural salesman, and at one point looked like he could happily spend the rest of the evening chatting to one drunken heckler.

If you don’t know your Andrew Marrs from your Andrew Neils, this is probably not a night for you. But for those who do enjoy the Punch and Judy spectacular of 21st century British politics, Matt Forde offers a very amusing ramble through the corridors of power.  And what better time to do it that in the midst of a ‘too close to call’ general election campaign?