Perhaps it was the fact that with the current Coalition Government, it is like shooting fish in a barrel for a political comedian.

Or maybe it was the fact he was dosed up on cough syrup having picked up a cold somewhere along his current tour of about 50 dates from Abergavenny to Walton-on-Thames.

Whatever the reason, festival favourite and Radio 4 regular Jeremy Hardy decided to get deep and meaningful.

Of course, those who prowl our parliamentary halls still got their deserved stick. Michael Gove, in particular, was in the line of fire – only one look at him and you can understand why.

There was little escape too for the Royals, and even those sporting colourful trousers. Jeremy’s grumpy old man persona (as much offstage as on, we were assured) became fervent as the Corn Exchange heated up in the unseasonal October weather.

But then he talked of the passing of his mother, who had suffered from dementia.

There was wit and self-deprecation in spades, as you would expect from a seasoned pro who’s been doing this kind of thing since the early 1980s, yet also a surprising dose of poignancy and heartfeltness.

Then he said the c-word, declared his hatred of everything about everyone (but not the actual people, you see) and normality – along with a bellyful of laughs – was restored.