Review: Paul Merton's Silent Clowns

They gave us a glimpse of the side-splitting humour that our grandparents and great grandparents would have guffawed at.

I found myself doing just that with the rest of the audience at De Montfort Hall.

Pianist Neil Brand, masterfully improvised, keeping perfect timing with the racy action.

Chaplin's classic slap-stick buffoonery with a ladder won roars of laughter.

Comedy duo Laurel and Hardy's movie Liberty had me on the edge of my seat with bated breath at their dare-devil antics, on top of a high rise building under construction.

Buster Keaton's gripping quest, in Seven Chances, was to find a bride by 7pm that day to secure a seven million pound inheritance - and included a spectacular pursuit by a street full of would-be brides.

There was a communal sigh of relief when Keaton ended up marrying his true love, within a minute to spare.

It was a refreshingly different form of entertainment, with a touch of nostalgia from a bygone era.