EVER wished your child’s primary school would give the nativity a miss this year and instead put on its own festive production of Die Hard?

Well Dara O Briain has, and judging from last night’s show at Ipswich’s Regent Theatre, the majority of the crowd were right on his side.

The popular Irish comic and Mock the Week host’s Craic Dealer tour came to town and a packed Regent audience, while a little slow to warm up, was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

O Briain’s effortless style, only slightly hindered at times by a cold, saw him switch between contrasting topics without pausing for breath, while mercilessly ribbing his front row guests.

His banter with a haunted house salesman, celebrity chauffeur and BT phone bill collator was instinctive and inspired.

O Briain’s tour has been on the road for most of the year and his polished delivery is only matched by the quality of his spontaneous audience interaction.

Ipswich eagerly awaits a return visit.