Stand-up has formed an important part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival and TV Sketch Show regular Lee Mack ensured its contribution was rounded off in style.

Stand-up has formed an important part of the festival and TV Sketch Show regular Lee Mack ensured its contribution was rounded off in style.

It was no mean feat to get Norwich laughing after the disappointment of the afternoon's football – but Mack and his support act Carey Marks had another big Playhouse audience aching at intervals.

Mack threw in an early play-off reference – to get it out of the way – but then thankfully stayed away from football, besides bantering with a Barnsley fan (which, as Michael Parkinson will tell you, is nothing to be proud of).

His was an easy conversational approach, interacting with his audience throughout his set, notably with two overseas members of the crowd – a French teacher of Arabic and (glory be for any comic) a chef from Beirut.

Before the interval, we were warmed up in fine fashion by Carey Marks, yet another comic who has arrived in the job via medicine.

We can but guess that laughter is the only way to get through a career in the NHS, but perhaps confining it to the stage is the best plan.

Marks said his early trick of producing a bunch of flowers from up his sleeve never went down too well in the gynaecology department.

The strange medical phenomenon of albinos was a recurring theme in his act, and despite his irritating voice and laugh, you couldn't resist joining in.