I’VE never been a fan of that English Carry On tradition of comedy.

The ‘ooh er missus’ of Frankie Howard and the nudge nudge wink wink of Syd James.

But I have always respected the work and enjoyed the comedy of Alan Bennett, so I thought I’d give his farcical romp Habeas Corpus a go.

And I have to say, that despite my reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastically played comedy, largely due to the brilliant performances from the actors in the Phoenix Theatre Company.

Habeas Corpus was written in 1973 and is a saucy play of sexual frustration and confusion, with lashings of good old fashioned innuendo on the side.

It follows the lecherous and world weary Dr Arthur Wicksteed (John Howarth) and his pursuit of his pretty young patient, Felicity Rumpers (Emma Pollard).

Muriel Wicksteed (Irene Smith) is outwardly the typical WI, middle England Daily Telegraph-reading house wife.

But secretly she is also lusting after the doctor’s rival, Sir Percy Shorter (Robin Thompson).

One of the stand-out comedy moments was Mrs Wicksteed’s “sexual awakening” in a typical farcical interchange involving mistaken identity.

Inside the Wickseed’s house, we meet their family and their friends and aquaintances....and they’re all obsessed with sex. Every one of them.

Special praise must go to Edwina Freeman playing the working class hero Mrs Swabb, who was the play’s narrator and came out with some of the funniest one-liners.

As Wicksteed says at the end of the play, “He who lusts last, lasts longest.”

I’m not sure how true that is, but I did laugh.

I won’t be ordering the Carry On boxed set on DVD just yet though.

Phoenix Theatre Company Habeas Corpus until Saturday at St Philip’s Parochial Hall, Bridgeman Street, Bolton 01204 840448 Tickets cost £6.50.