BACK in the day, I couldn't bear Mrs Merton – partly I just didn't find her that funny, but mostly it was that high-pitched whiney voice.

Now Sarah Millican is a different kettle of fish. Her voice may also be high pitched and her South Shields accent pronounced but she really delivers in the comedy department.

Much of the material is female-centric. She would have us believe her life revolves around food and a bar set somewhat low in boyfriend territory. Even fitness gets the treatment as she searches for the DVD Fat Lass Has A Go. And healthy eating is typified by an apple that's been in her handbag for a couple of months.

Her life is peopled with everything from the mildly eccentric to the downright weird; folk we can understand while being eternally grateful we don't have to interact with them. Interaction was saved for the audience who were invited to share their insights on a variety of topics.

This is a clever ploy because when you ask the audience for their input it neutralises hecklers.

Barbed but never vicious, Sarah turns the humdrum into the surreal. Family, friends and the boyfriend all have their little quirks. The boyfriend brings her something to cheer her up: Flowers? Chocolates? No, Mr Potato Head.

Pants certainly got the audience – all ages, both sexes – to respond. Apparently a woman at a previous show described as the most cautious lady in the world said she always had a spare pair "in case she got lost". To which Ms Millican replied: "Why, do they have a compass in them?"

And there was quite a response to the "what do you use when you run out of toilet paper?" question. Answers – and these are the clean ones – included a Mars Bar wrapper, junk mail, bus ticket and a sock.

She's rude, the language is fruity, but the show was sold out. Terrific stand-up comedy that made for a great evening's entertainment.