Andrew Watts – How to Build a Chap

Andrew Watts' latest hour, How To Build A Chap, is partly a follow-up to last year's verbose and considered explanation of modern day gender politics, Feminism For Chaps. This year, however, he tackles an entirely new challenge: how to raise a child free from the trappings of traditional gender roles.

Despite the normality of the show's theme - parenthood - Watts' somehow manages to breathe new life into previously hack subjects.

As ever, Watts manages to explore controversial ground without crossing the line into patronisation or superiority. Part of the show's success comes from its emphasis on people over politics, and its ability to identify the heart of the problems caused by strict gender division. Watts is not only concerned with the relationship between him and his son however. 

As the show progresses – via observational humour, silly sound effects and explosive yet eloquent rants – it becomes apparent that the impetus behind the show is Watts' fractured relationship with his own father. With a few tongue-in-cheek references to award-baiting 'dead dad' performances, Watts' pits his relationship with both generations of his family against each other with brutal honesty – but never fails to temper the hard truths with lighter material about cricket and Mumsnet. However niche this material might seem, it still manages to keep a diverse audience (parents, yuppies, teenagers and the elderly) laughing non-stop.

Despite the normality of the show's theme - parenthood - Watts' somehow manages to breathe new life into previously hack subjects. Whether it is his baffled, socially-awkward persona or his gleefully idiosyncratic approach to established norms, Andrew Watts has somehow made jokes about nappy-changing funny again.