To the annual Performing Artistes Speaker Drinks showcase at the IOD, London, where we mingle with the likes of the elegant dancer John Sergeant and Gerald Ratner, the retail jeweller who cleverly described some of his products as “crap” at the IOD many years ago and thus launched himself into a lucrative speaking career as his shops closed.
However the main entertainment was the showcasing of four young comedians on the company’s books, all looking for corporate and conference work Eshaan Akbar had a likeable, self-deprecating approach, Paul Sinha claimed to be the only openly gay comedian on the circuit, (was he joking?) Tom Ward did a bitingly accurate Jools Holland impression and Tiff Stevenson made friends with her digs at Donald Trump, all in all an enjoyable way for organisers to evaluate some up-and coming talent.