Not many people can stand for two hours on stage and make you feel as if you're having a chat with an old friend, but a dishevelled vicar did just that in the Regent Centre last night.

Reverend Coles engaged the audience in the story of his life, having us roaring with laughter at one moment and murmuring in concern the next.

From prosperous family roots and his days as a choirboy, Coles took us through his discovery that he was gay, and the ear piercing and move to drama college which seemed to follow naturally.

Moving to London and finding himself in the Communards and a top flight pop star was, he claimed, simply good luck.

From recording a film score in the loo at Kings Cross (good acoustics) and singing with Springstein, we moved to his sadness for friends who died in the AIDs epidemic, the audience now leaning forward in sympathy.

Coles told us he started to get religious twinges and thought these were a prelude to insanity, but his decision to enter the church came as no surprise to the audience, as through the humorous asides we saw a deeply spiritual man.

Ordination and a move from a Knightsbridge parish - ministering to dukes and royalty - to his vicarage in Finedon were described with self-deprecating wit.

This vicar bared his soul and his emotions to the audience tonight with a rare mixture of laughter and sensitivity, and they loved him for it.

Lesley Dedman