When somebody stands before a Cambridge audience and declares that “This is a poem I wrote in my third year”, the inevitable ensuing giggles have for too long been considered an inappropriate expression of critical opinion. In Liam Williams’ one-off showcase we were finally allowed to breathe a ‘lol’ of relief, and the sold-out ADC enjoyed a night of true comic talent.

Footlights Phil Wang and Dannish Babar supported Williams in his home-from-home-coming show. Williams graduated from Homerton two years ago, having built a strong reputation in the university comedy circuits and laughing with the competition through the rounds of national contests.

Babar still relies heavily on his insisted resemblance to Marmite, and Wang on his own to Michael McIntyre, but it was great to finally see both develop this familiar material a little. Babar’s highlight was a rant on the misleading titles of plays which fail to deliver the protagonists they promise: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was shown to be a masterpiece of false-advertising, consisting of just another “load of Americans talking”. One can only imagine what Babar is expecting from Pornography. Wang peaked early with his vivid tale of Cabinet copulation, in which he satirised the coalition in order to set up his pitch for a new ‘efficient porn’ genre. He was, however, fantastic in the role of compere, successfully entertaining the crowd between sets.

Ultimately, it was Williams who stole his own show. Whilst the others had devoted an extraordinary amount of time to distracting the audience by fiddling awkwardly with the microphone stand, Williams set it immediately aside; whilst Babar spilled a glass of water, Williams simply drank his. Men from the boys. The pace and energy of his delivery did justice to thoughtfully written material. He puts his English degree to fine use, drawing on linguistics to flesh out “Grammar Man”, his super-alter-ego who fights injustice one split infinitive at a time, and explaining why the opening sentences of Prufrock are his chat-up lines of choice.

Williams is certainly one to watch. Articulate, witty and confident, may his be an example for many aspiring Cambridge comics to follow.