Good things about going to a comedy show full of 17-year-olds: You can easily get on the car park and there’s no queue at the bar.

Bad things: The teenagers are drunk, rowdy and go one stage further than heckling the acts by just shouting the same insults repeatedly.

Costello played host, warm-up, compere and headline act.

The song he did at the end was the highlight, making it just about worth giving up 90 minutes of your Friday night for. He provided a touching melody, in the style of Johnny Cash, that was a touch of genius.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the rest of the evening.

Costello introduced four friends on stage during the show.

One did a minute of ‘comedy magic’ which was a drunk lad being an idiot. One did three minutes before forgetting his material. Another repeatedly argued with a heckler. And the final girl did two jokes before exclaiming there was no point carrying on as we were all ‘rude drunks’ and walked off!

It was a pretty shambolic evening as it went.

Costello is a funny guy but a bit of advice: get a bit more material together and leave your mates at home next time.

Click on the link below for more information on the Blackburn with Darwen Comedy Festival.