ICAS' Savoy stand-ups impress TS

TS SAUNTERED ALONG to the Savoy last night for ICAS' annual London dinner (for some strange reason, they have one later in the year in Edinburgh as well) and found a feast of entertainment.

ICAS chief Anton Colella and new president Sir David Tweedie are both known for having the gift of the gab, and they certainly didn't disappoint.

In fact, it seemed at times as if their speeches were more vehicles for practising stand-up than anything else.

Most groan-worthy was Anton's: "As you can tell from my surname, I have Italian roots. My family stole Filofaxes – it was very organised crime." Boom boom.

However, David stole the show with his Ode to a Haggis rendition – a requirement of all ICAS presidents. The famous Robert Burns poem was expertly delivered by David, often with a flourish of knives at key moments.

Both ‘performances' left comedian Ed Byrne to point out that, in fact, he was hired to do the jokes.

Oh, and the haggis was great, thanks.