Gill Oliver enjoys a laugh with writer’s humourous look at the city of dreaming spires

Richard O Smith is a funny bloke... which is the perfect attribute for a comedy writer.

The comedian, author and screenwriter is well known to readers of the Oxford Times’ Limited Edition magazine for his Oxford Examined column.

Now 70 of his best columns – along with some new writings – have been published as an anthology.

Oxford Examined: Town and Clown captures the experience of living in Oxford in Richard’s comic style.

The column has covered a wide range of subjects and experiences, from allowing Oxford University psychologists to experiment on him, to participating in the UK’s national bell ringing championships.

He writes about meeting the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, comedian Dara O’Briain, “the one who plays Phoebe in Friends” and a “predictably grumpy” Alan Sugar.

Then there’s the time he rescues four horses in a busy Oxford street (“thankfully it wasn’t the apocalypse”); falls down a sinkhole; gets chased by a woman dressed as a Friesian cow; and becomes a crime-fighting superhero.

Life is certainly never dull in Richard’s world... and he swears it’s all true.

Right from the introductory preamble, this is pure comedy genius.

I dare anybody to read it and not start sniggering out loud. Warning: this may attract odd looks if you are on a bus or anywhere else in public.

By the end, it’s obvious why he has such an impressive list of credits to his name, including writing for Radio 4’s The Now Show and News Quiz and well-known comedians such as Hugh Dennis and Lucy Porter.

Richard will be discussing his book with film producer and writer Victor Glynn at Blackwell’s Bookshop, Oxford, on Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm. Tickets are £3 from the Customer Service Department in the Norrington Room or by calling 01865 333623.

Oxford Examined: Town and Clown by Richard O Smith, Signal Books, £7.99