The first episode of The Byrne Ultimatum with Jason Byrne

I’ve been in TV audiences before. The Late Late Show, Questions and Answers, Tubridy, The Panel, Blackboard Jungle and even Jason Byrne‘s own show a few years ago (the Christmas episode where we sang “Chocolate Bin” to the tune of Christmas carols) , but I have rarely laughed as much out loud nor enjoyed a TV show recording as much as I did last night for the first episode of The Byrne Ultimatum.

It was only during the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival this year that I realised just how funny Jason Byrne was and I really hoped he’s get his own show. I realise he’s had them - Anonymous and The Jason Byrne Show among others - but he has a wonderful way of looking at Irish society, culture, the things we used to do and how we used to do them.

It’s not scripted, it’s straight from his head and it is, to me at least, very very funny. It’s that same voice that goes “‘Twas far from cappucinos in Starbucks that you were rared!” He also played a blinder at the Carlsberg Comedy Carnival this year.

Last night’s show gave Byrne his own manic playground to have fun with. Set up as a panel quiz show, similar to Buzzcocks, Mock the Week and, erm, The Panel, it gives the audience far more opportunity to interact and enjoy the experience. We were all out in Draíocht in Blanchardstown.

First up, an introduction (post rapturous applause) by Jason during which he talked to the audience, picking out two members - one to be a co-host and one to play the tiniest grand piano in the world, singing the intros to the rounds and the songs.

The guests last night - PJ Gallagher (of course, being one of Byrne’s best friends), Bernard O’ Shea, Rosanna Davison and scouser Liverpudlian John Bishop - had enough lack-of-structure - to really excel and enjoy themselves and the questions. Very little was scripted, it was all ad-lib, observational comments, sarcastic, funny and dry. Just the kind of humour I like.

The rounds were standard fare with a twist - the match-up round had match the celebrities with how they died, the “guess what film or TV show it is” had clues that made the audience both gasp with shock and laugh at how funny (the twin towers one especially) and the higher-or-lower round had a unique twist with Edmund Ignatius Rice making an appearance. I kid you not. The Bee Gee gag (in Ireland, that’s where honey comes from) is one that will stay with me for a while.

All in all, a really enjoyable show. Very gentle and not at all the formal strict - please audience, do not breathe - style that you’d expect. The audience laughed, cheered, clapped, booed, shouted and joined in with gusto and fair play to the two volunteers - Dan, a third dan Taekwondo expert teaching in Crumlin and Ger, making his own way in music PR who were as much a part of the show as the guests.

It’ll be really interesting to see how it turns out post editing - it’s due on screen in September. I’ve watched shows like the Panel where it’s kind of obvious what bits they’ll use (and what bits they can’t) but with this, almost everything eas what you’d expect from Jason Byrne - good humoured, sarcastic, funny and not at anyone’s expense really. Just a guy having a laugh. I’m back off tonight to see the second screening and looking forward to it immensely.