Written by Harry Michaels (with additional material by Manford and Nickless) and especially successful when paired with musical supervision from Gary Hind, the book bares moments of triumphant hilarity. Locally sourced gags are interspersed between a host of laugh-out-loud jokes centred around current affairs- and nobody is safe. Quip after quip: Hamilton, Manchester’s infamous Canal Street and two former hosts of This Morning are burned by panto fire as the audience laugh and gasp in equal measure. There are moments, however, where certain jokes outstay their welcome and are overstepped in giant proportions. (When a minority group becomes the butt of the joke, it’s probably time for a re-write.) As for the plot, it trots (sorry) along in the style one comes to expect from that of a pantomime. Although efforts are made to maintain pace and narrative continuity, the story is ultimately hindered by overly self-indulgent scenes; positioned to showcase the range of talents on stage but, in doing so, cutting the plot at the root. This leads to panto staples in the form of slapstick song and dance routines being wedged awkwardly between scenes and given the afterthought treatment- as entertaining as they are.