WHEN Richard Herring last visited the Tivoli to play in front of a similarly sizeable crowd, it was with Christ on a Bike, a show that caused some controversy in his attempt to dissect his relationship with religion.

While his latest one man show takes on the ostensibly more cuddly subject of addressing matters of the heart, it’s just as rude, just as smartly constructed and impressively, even more rib-tickling.

But What Is Love, Anyway? (named after Howard Jones’ 1983 pop song), is also a very touching, personal show, as Herring takes an intellectually cynical and scientific approach to love.

The podcaster and obsessive tweeter shares stories of his love life highs and lows beginning with a four page letter he sent to the object of his affection at the age of 10.

Spirit guides, the ridiculousness of parents who say they love their kids, his incompatibility with ex-girlfriend Julia Sawalha and tales of his grandmother all feature in the show.

It is The Ferrero Rocher Pyramid routine, based on a romantic gesture to recreate a chocolate pyramid for his girlfriend, which gets the biggest laugh.

There was certainly plenty of love in the room for the comic tonight.