Angry Humour From A Really Nice Guy is the not-so-snappy name of Nish Kumar’s current tour, but as a title which tells you precisely what to expect, it works perfectly. Kumar is a Really Nice Guy, of that there is no doubt. With a back catalogue that includes The Mash Report and Taskmaster plus a multitude of other TV, podcast and media appearances, he’s already found considerable fame. On this current tour, he’s back to live stand-up comedy and is clearly in his element.

So why is this Really Nice Guy angry? The reasons are many, as Kumar is quick to explain. On a personal level, he’s just turned 41 and is feeling his age - his conversations with friends centre around discussions of their workout routines. On a global scale, the world is in chaos, political systems are in turmoil, autocracy is a threat and inequality is rife. Rich pickings indeed for a comedian who, according to The Guardian, is ‘the pre-eminent comic political polemicist of our time’.

And so, with a focus on what’s wrong with the world, the scene is set - somewhat improbably - for a rip-roaringly funny set. As he weaves his way through topics that touch us all - the internet, Trump’s presidency, mobile phones, flags on lampposts, the continued consequences of British colonialism - Kumar demonstrates the knack of touching on troubling aspects of society with cutting humour. There is a long tradition of people poking fun at serious issues in order to help process them, and Kumar is a master of this craft. This show is hilarious.

Kumar delivers his material at a pace approaching a million miles a minute. There’s hardly time for him, or the audience, to draw breath. The gags come thick and fast, and the sell-out crowd is with him all the way. At one point, Kumar observes, with some irony, that his audience is made up of mirror images of himself - left-leaning geeks who put up their hands rather than heckling out loud, and who wouldn’t dare disagree with him. No doubt he’s correct, but not even the surliest of souls could take offence, such is his charisma and his ability to deliver even bad news with a cheeky grin.

Nish Kumar must surely be one of the most endearing and genuinely funny comics on the scene today. His ability to work a crowd and to connect with his audience is a joy to behold. Angry Humour From A Really Nice Guy is thoughtful, intelligent, beautifully observed and a downright laugh-out-loud look at the world through the eyes of a comedian at the top of his game. He’s back in the region, at Coventry’s Warwick Arts Centre, on Saturday 21 November. Grab a ticket if you can - but be quick; they’re selling fast!

Five stars

Nish Kumar’s Angry Humour From A Really Nice Guy was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Thursday 15 October at Birmingham Town Hall