Liam Rudden: Strange case of Andrew Lawrence

AS regular readers will know, stand-up comedians leave me cold. Okay, that’s a bit of a generalisation. Not all... just most. It’s the inherent sense of neediness I can’t relate to. The cathartic desire to bare their soul in a public therapy session. That or just the opportunity have their ego massaged.

Those who do make me laugh are few and far between; Mrs Barbara Nice is beautifully subversive in the most unexpected way, Jo Brand gives a master class every time she picks up a mic, as did the late, great Joan Rivers.

Gary Shandling was a master at the wry and dry, while Jim Davidson, Dawn French and Ken Dodd have comic timing second to none.

All have honed their craft through the years and pushed boundaries without resorting to shock tactics. Not many can do that well.

Consequently, I’ve been following the ongoing Andrew Lawrence vs Twitter/Facebook ‘debate’ with interest. And yes, Lawrence makes me laugh too. A lot.

The social media backlash over a Facebook post in which he aired views on ‘politics’ and the ‘comedy establishment’ has been quite spectacular. You don’t have agree with him, but that shouldn’t stop him expressing himself.

Reading the reactions, including some from those in the business, the question that strikes me is why one man’s opinion should appear to threaten so many?

Could there be an element of truth they recognise and, in doing so, perhaps see their own shortcomings?

Hence the smokescreen of righteous, holier-than-thou out-pourings, which I hope Lawrence is mining for material. His next show could be an explosive affair.

One thing’s for sure, as long as Lawrence remains an observer looking in from the outside, his trademark rants will continue to be more pertinent that any Geordie talking about their sex life and cakes.