The One And Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island

Twenty four minutes is a long time to stretch a single joke.

Herb McGwyer (musician Tom Basden) has been invited to play on a Welsh island by little known – not known at all – lottery winner Charles Heath (Tim Key). Herb is a folk singer, with soft acoustic Wake Up To Wogan pretensions. Trouble is he’s been suffering from depression for years and is as much fun as a wet flannel in the boys’ bog.

Charles is so apologetically accommodating, he must be gay. However, there’s no time for all that. Let’s call him a fan with a suitcase full of money and a flattery pancake for a smile.

When Herb, who continues to look ego tripped and broodingly boring, asks how many are expected at the gig, Charles says, “Less than 100.” When pressed he admits that the numbers will be 99 less than 100.

The actors are the writers, which add to the exclusivity of their conceit. Once you know you are not in rehearsals for The Wicker Man 3 and that Charles is a harmless eccentric who doesn’t get out enough, there is not much left to look at.

There is a twist in the tail, which hardly registers, because by then you want to slap Charles across the face with a wet haddock and leave the island.