MADNESS exploded into a packed Bournemouth International Centre on a wintry Tuesday evening. 

The show contains the massive hits of course, but the new album Theatre of the Absurd presents C’est la Vie is featured throughout and proves that the boys have still got the hunger and talent to produce such a top quality set of songs. 

Ian Broudie and the Lightning Seeds were support act and provided us all with some juicy tasters from their career. Change, Sense, even a part of the Byrds You Showed Me, displayed their ability perfectly.

However it was Three Lions that was wanted by the audience and it closed their set with a massive singalong from everyone in the arena. 

Madness came on after the interval to adoring applause and cheers.

Straight into Theatre of the Absurd from the new album, which was greeted like an old classic hit. The audience was certainly abreast of the new music.

Suggs cleverly interspersed new tracks with old classics to keep up the pace.

Their first single, The Prince from 1979, was on second, followed by Beginners 101 from the new album. My Girl, NW5, and Embarrassment subsequently alternated with the new tracks.

In My Street was the final new song, which led us into what was undoubtedly the best section of the evening for the crowd.

A five-song session of the massive hits kept everyone singing their hearts out, while clapping and singing along.

One Step Beyond had the entire intro sung by the crowd with Suggs visibly moved by the love of the crowd for a song from 1979 – 44 Years old!

House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House, and the set closer It Must Be Love were sung along to with equal gusto.

The whole show was of such quality, with older music played so enthusiastically and the new songs displaying the maturity of what are now very experienced musicians.

The three encores came and went so quickly.

Madness, a tribute to Terry Hall and The Specials preceded the show finale, Night Boat to Cairo. Suggs and the nine musicians took their final bow and sadly it was all over.