Paul Smith (comedian)

Smith’s work as a compere at Liverpool’s Hot Water Comedy Club makes audience interaction central to the job, with a small suggestion becoming material that carries the room towards the next act. Start with the club performances, then compare the crowd sections of Pablo with the personal stories surrounding them. The useful thing to notice is how he keeps asking after the first answer, finding another detail to develop. His teasing can be blunt, so a longer sequence gives a fairer impression of the exchange than a single clipped punchline.