Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Christmas

The premise of this show may seem all too obvious. It is not difficult to imagine Ivan Brackenbury: a balding loser who dons Timmy Mallet glasses to entertain the inmates of a cliché ridden, northern hospital. The idea that hilarity will ensue when Brackenbury selects songs with unfortunate – purely coincidental – relevance for ill dedicatees is a simple one. However, whilst these preconceptions of Chesterfield Hospital’s foremost DJ are entirely accurate, the Brackenbury character is no cheap Peter Kay impression.

The drive to this show is intense, with truly hilarious song dedications coming so thick and fast that there is no time for the concept to become boring. And there is certainly more to this Christmas special than a rendition of Torn Between Two Lovers for a girl who injured herself in a “roasting incident” could sum up. There’s even a story line and faceless voices for Brackenbury to chat with over the phone. The audience can text in any special requests they have for loved ones in a spot of bother and boxes full of tinselly fun are thrown around for all to enjoy.

As Ivan – “Brackenbury” seems far too formal – says himself, sitting with him here in the Pleasance Courtyard is more like being part of Steve Wright’s posse than any kind of passive audience member. And as the dawn of realisation spreads around the room at just how appropriate the title Country Tracts is for a show presented by a woman with a prolapsed vagina (perhaps Count ryTracts will help), there are few hospitals you can imagine wanting to spend more time in.