A PACKED house welcomed one of the country’s most popular comics back to South Lakeland.

When the 8 Out Of 10 Cats host visited the same venue last year, I avoided him as I was unsure of Carr’s close to the bone humour.

Is it right to laugh at some of his jokes? There is a fine line between pushing the boundaries of taste and just being plain vile i.e. being Frankie Boyle.

But Carr’s argument is that by joking about taboo and horrific subjects, he is providing a release for people from everyday life.

Being able to find the humour in something which in ordinary circumstances would be too awful to even think about is a way of dealing with them. It’s a cathartic experience for many, he says.

So giving him the benefit of the doubt, I decided to give it a shot this time round.

From the word go, the packed audience was laughing, and it didn’t stop for the two and a half hour show (great value for money it has to be said), despite some unwanted and unfunny front row heckling from the distracting Carr from his act a bit too often.

And, although I felt uncomfortable with a few of Carr’s below the belt jokes, I was able to see the funny side too and have to say it was a good night ou.

Well done Lakes Leisure for continuing to bring in some of the best acts in the country.