Review: Lucy Porter, Ludlow Fringe Festival

The Celebrity Mastermind champion, who was recently married and has two children aged one and two, returned to the town to bring the curtain down on the Ludlow Fringe Festival.

The comedienne, who has appeared on panel shows like Mock the Week and Have I Got New For You, performed at the Royal British Legion headquarters, in Mill Street, last night.

She said: "The last time I was in Ludlow, about eight years ago, I had an amazing time. It was one of the nicest gigs I had been to and we stayed in a beautiful cottage. We sat on a little bench by the river. It was during another small festival."

Porter was trying out new material for her new show, which she will be taking to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this year.

She said: "I don't tend to get that nervous now doing stand-up but when it's new stuff the butterflies and adrenaline return, which is why I do it. It's great to back and this gig reminds me of my early career."

Last night's gig included three support acts and a brilliant compere in Jonny Pearson, from Kidderminster.

Early on in her routine Porter readily admits to having married her 6ft 5in Nordic-looking husband "purely so she could have the funny wedding photos".

At 4ft 11in, Porter reveals when the kids play up in the park she can easily pretend to be the Spanish nanny.

Being born in Croydon and now living in London once again, Porter has found her place of birth is the only area she can make jokes about and no one will be offended.

One of her pet hates is people saying they could never live in London, at which Porter likes to reply "Well, I don't remember inviting you".

Being a newly-wed, marriage is never far from the routine and the audience was in stitches when she compared married life to being like a neutered animal because "your life becomes less about sex and more about food and becoming familiar with your surroundings".

Porter also reveals the not-so-romantic way in which her husband first proposed, which was over the phone.

"I said yes straight away but I should've asked who was calling," she says.

It was a superb night at a great venue, and long may the Ludlow Fringe Festival continue.