Scan the room at a Jason Manford gig and you’ll see hundreds of happy people nudging each other and exchanging knowing nods. Whether the Salford-born comic is talking about relationships, life on the road, paddle tennis or anything else, really - being relatable is near the top of his list of priorities. Can he make out those responses, from under the bright spotlights?

This was a performance I’d been looking forward to for some time. On the night, we were at the back in the right-hand corner of the house, which turned out to be a double blessing. For one, it meant we had an aisle seat, which made getting out and topping up on drinks easier; secondly, it meant the formidable Stewart Lee couldn’t pick on us.

Moving a drag act from a showbar backdrop to a larger cabaret cum theatre venue before delivering a comprehensive performance of two halves, takes more than tits, teeth and a string of one liners!

Stand-up Connor Burns, 29, is about to embark on his first ever UK tour. Mark Wareham talks to him at home in Edinburgh as he limbers up for the new tour and finds out what makes this fast-rising Scottish star tick. Catch him at a venue near you, before he makes the inevitable leap to the bigger stage… Hi Connor.