By Cherry Jordan

"Richie, if you don't just shut up then I'm going to have to resort to physical violence [the audience cheer], which at the moment sounds like a very popular option."

The crowd at The New Theatre certainly were bating for blood on Sunday night when they turned out in their droves to see Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour - don't ask.

Everyone had high expectations of seeing Eddie give Richie the beating of the century and I don't think they were disappointed.

There was a whole new array of tortuous tools just waiting to be used to mutilate the ridiculous, unsuspecting Richie. Not to mention the usual weapons of choice such as the obligatory frying pan and mallet.

Now I could explain to you the plot of the show but to be honest I don't think that's important. What is important is seeing these two comedy icons in person doing their thing and enjoying the atmosphere with the other 'die-hard' Eddie and Richie fans.

Believe me, if you thought the TV show was good then your going to have to ask for mercy at the end because the hilarious chemistry between the duo still manages to fill the stage - if not the whole of oxford - even after over 20 years of the working together.

They obviously still find each other extremely amusing which was displayed repeatedly by their own involuntary giggles and forgetting of lines, which just add to the whole silliness of the night.

So from that little lot I think it's safe to say that I loved every minute of it, but I hope I didn't give too much away. What I will tell you is to expect a lot of toilets, swearing and the most pairs of grey, oversized Y-Fronts you would have ever seen outside of Marks and Sparks.