We know you're smiling inside, Rich!

With his grizzled looks and deadpan demeanour, Rich Hall doesn't look like the sort of guy who's going to split your sides.

But last night at Exeter's Corn Exchange, the American funny man demonstrated why he is one of the best comedians on the UK circuit.

Prowling the stage like a bear that has just woken from its winter slumber in his native Montana, Hall makes Jack Dee seem positively joyful.

But his acerbic wit and keen observation of British culture ensures his audience has plenty to smile about.

With topics as diverse as gun control to the horse meat scandal, Hall, is no one-trick pony.

He is also, articulate, sharp and self deprecating.

Early on in the show he blew the punch line of a joke but rather than fudge his way thorough, as many other less secure mortals would have, he turned that into a mini sketch in itself.

A few minutes later, a gag about the Baldwin dynasty of actors, saw Hall repeatedly stepping off of the stage to heckle himself.

And he received a one-man standing ovation from an audience member called Dylan, a window cleaner, whom he wrote an impromptu song about.

In fact those who have only seen his TV appearances may have been, pleasantly, surprised, by the musical element of Hall's routine.

Among the pre-penned songs were another three that he seemed to write on the spot about Dylan, a builder called Dan and Kelvin, an IT expert. Kelvin came off worse.

Although he looks as though he's had a hard paper round, Hall belies his 60 years and looks at least 10 younger.

After the show he signed autographs and posed with fans for selfies and he genuinely seemed to be enjoying it.

He may look like he's lost his last dollar and found a cent but after just two hours in his company, you know Rich Hall is smiling inside.

To find out what's coming up at Exeter Corn Exchange go to http://www.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange/index.aspx?articleid=13927