Gráinne Maguire's One Hour All Night Election Special

• Brian Donaldson
• 16 August 2013

This article is from 2013.

Retrospection of past failures and general election obsession

It’s difficult not to allow yourself to be dragged along on the wave of Gráinne Maguire’s infectious enthusiasm for her subject. But given the slight dearth of laughs in this hour, it could well be that she hasn’t quite trawled deep enough into the world of voting habits to get her show first past the post. Instead, she uses this One Hour All Night Election Special to look at her past failures as a part of polite society and as a member of the Maguire family (cue embarrassing photos and cringe-inducing video footage).

She does seem thoroughly obsessed with general elections though, and holds a makeshift vote among the crowd. But this actually seems to simply be a long-winded excuse for the climactic gag featuring a fashion disaster from her youth. The closing montage of politicians (both left and right) trying not to burst into tears as their defeat is announced in front of a braying public holds a nostalgic appeal for some, but adds up to a fairly hollow ending to this pleasant enough hour.

Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 25 Aug, 2.45pm, £8.50–£10 (£7–£9).