It’s widely acknowledged that laughter is the best medicine, but an evening with Carl Donnelly serves as concrete proof.

The London-born comic won over the intimate studio audience immediately with his down-to-earth and unswervingly honest routine about life's ups and downs.

As the crowd filed into the unallocated seats, the vast majority noticeably did all they could to avoid sitting in the front row.

But they needn’t have worried about being mercilessly picked on - Carl is much more comfortable making fun of himself.

His opening observation that Poole is ‘a beautiful place, but full of pissed nutters’ was warmly received and later proved by some hecklers.

Now 35, Carl shared his thoughts on the scientific theory that 34 is the happiest age of your life.

After a messy divorce, depression and getting into drunken ‘scrapes’, he has morphed into a liberal, yoga-loving Vegan and is trying to come to terms with it.

If you’ve hit the big 3-0 or are nervous of doing so, good news: there is hope! Aside from ‘giving up on all your hopes and dreams’, there’s still plenty to laugh at.

Carl poked fun at his own newly boring ways, serial monogamy, modern crazes like spiralizers and charity runs and the quirks of his family and friends.

Constantly witty, this Edinburgh Comedy Award double nominee hit just the right balance of silly and rude.

There was nothing nasty about this show: it was hilarious, packed with laughs and really brightened up a dark Saturday night.