Our taste in comedy changes in a similar way to our taste in clothes.

Dave Spikey spent years on the working men's club circuit before Phoenix Nights (which he co-wrote and starred in) won him a wider audience.

When he started his career, most of the people in the Corn Exchange would probably have turned their noses up at him. On Tuesday, they were too busy laughing.

He talked about kids, grandparents and funny sayings ("she knows her onions") - hardly cutting-edge stuff but very funny.

A few years ago, we would probably have never heard of him but as the "mainstream" and "alternative" come together, oh-so fashionable Brighton finds itself, like the rest of the world, laughing along to a bit of good, old-fashioned humour.

Spikey was until a couple of years ago the chief medical scientist at a hospital in Bolton and there were a few jokes inspired by his time there and the joys of misunderstood English language.

He also had a great selection of obituary poems to keep the belly laughs coming.

I remember seeing comedians like Spikey when I was growing up - mainly Northerners telling "dead funny" jokes about life, the universe and everything with no pretensions of being clever - and it was nice to be in the presence, once more, of a comedic craftsman.

Phoenix Nights' club compre Jerry St Clair made an end-of-show appearance for a couple of songs, although this was the weakest part of the show. It sounded more like Vic Reeves' club singer than Phoenix Nights' finest.

A special mention must go to warm-up act Steve Royal who managed to turn a few jokes, a bit of dancing, the odd mime and a lot of juggling into 20 minutes of fun - complete with him conducting a "woof", "baa", "quack" audience rendition of Good King Wenceslas.

The genial chap warmed us up a treat - just what he was supposed to do - in the far from ideal venue of the Corn Exchange.