REVIEW: David O’Doherty at The Leadmill

“IT’S Just So Good to be Back” is not just the opening number by comedian and musician David O’Doherty, it could very well be a strapline for the tour. 

He bounds onto the stage at The Leadmill full of enthusiasm and energy, following The Beatles back catalogue that had been entertaining the audience while we waited for the show to start.

“F**k off Macca, I’ll take it from here!” he cheerfully exclaims and proceeds to do just that. 

The sheer joy of being back on stage after numerous lockdowns cancelled his stand-up is plain to see and hear. 

Having spent the first lockdown with his parents on an isolated rural island (where “even the sheep were saying ‘This is shit’”), he took to taking daily walks where he was battered by the weather and windswept while faux-ruminating over his pre-pandemic guesting alongside pop royalty on television — “I was once on Sunday Brunch with Dua Lipa!” 

He professes his love of Sheffield having played the city numerous times before and congratulating it on its lack of “pubs full of divorced dads ordering a pint of ‘You Can’t Say That Anymore IPA’.”

And The Leadmill is his venue of choice for when he performs, even if he makes a less than star-studded appearance.

Commenting about arriving and using the main entrance to the shock of four people waiting outside he quips: “Like they expected me to be dropped in via a golden hot air balloon!”

The set is a perfect mix of jokes, stories and songs and one of the standout tunes for me was Beefs List 2023, during which he details all of the things bugging and annoying him so far this year. 

Sadly, this did include people stood vaping outside pubs “blowing fruity plumes” towards those arriving — which technically this audience member would have been guilty of!

An exuberant and upbeat show that was warm, witty and wonderful.