After double bookings and trips to Cardiff meant I missed the last two monthly Leadmill Comedy Clubs, I made it up to the venue on Wednesday 2 December by doubling our party to four and booking a table (complete with miniature Christmas tree and fake snow) so we could kick off the festive season with some hilarious comedy.

Comedy on the night came from compere Archie Maddocks, whose impressive CV includes last year being a finalist in the English Comedian of the Year competition, runner up in the Amused Moose Laugh Off Competition and winner of the Bath Comedy Festival New Act of the Year. Archie combines his likable nature with his charismatic and conversational style, observations and quick wit to make the audience think again about race and confidence whilst giving us a genuinely good time between acts.

The impressive comedy CV’s keep coming with Eton and Oxford graduate Ivo Graham, the youngest ever winner of the So You Think You’re Funny award and nominee for the Chortle Best Newcomer and Leicester (my home town) Mercury Comedian of the Year. Known for his charm and self-aware wit, Ivo has also appeared on BBC3, Radio 4, Five Live and XFM. On the night Ivo made me grateful I no longer go on holiday with my parents and that I still use a Nokia mobile (though my “7” key works).

The only female on the night, but proving she more than deserves to share a stage with three men, was musician comedian Kate Lucas, who went one further than Ivo Graham, winning this year’s Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year and promises audiences darkly shocking comedic lyrics. Described by my boyfriend as a female Frankie Boyle, the promise of shocking lyrics was met, leaving me never seeing Mary Berry in the same light and promising never to argue with someone about leaving crumbs in the butter, whilst not being able to resist laugh out loud uncomfortably.

Stepping in at the last minute, the headliner act for the evening was Derbyshire comedian Rob Rouse, winner of So You Think You Are Funny 1998 and whose television fame includes “Celebrity Juice” and “8 Out Of 10 Cats”. A natural storyteller, what could have been cringeworthy stories about parenthood and prostate exams left the audience in stitches.