With his camp voice and chatty manner, Josh Jones can elicit strong reactions. But the Mancunian stand-up either confronts aggression with provocative mischief or some brook-no-bullshit, steely hardness of his own. Notwithstanding that he’s been intimidated by geese and is not above pettily grandstanding over fellow(child) bridesmaids at a friend’s wedding, he came up on the northern working-men’s club circuit and retains some rough edges to his TV-friendly persona. 

When a series of events led to him being invited onto MOTDx as a pundit, he leaned into his lack of football knowledge to enrage its predominantly cis heterosexual male fanbase. And when Jones has been assailed because of his sexuality, he’s tended to bypass his youthful boxing training for a blunter, rudimentary and more ultra-violent riposte.

Not that Jones is incapable of refinement, explaining in patient detail the diligent cleaning regime he follows to keep his anus pristine for sex. However, that’s simply the set-up for a hilariously viscous visual image that incites as many gasps of horror as it does laughs. Roguishly, he also challenges the prevailing wisdom that all homophobic bullying is wrong, for a counter-intuitive bit of rascally messing that nevertheless contains a persuasive kernel of truth. 

Josh Jones: Gobsmacked, Pleasance Courtyard, until 27 August, 8.20pm (extra show 12 August, 10.50pm).