JUDGING by the occasionally inexplicable and usually fiendishly clever offerings we see every day in newspapers, the political cartoonist should be a weird species indeed.

But the two who 'performed' at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre on Saturday were almost disappointingly ordinary.

Martin Rowson and Steve Bell, stalwarts of vicious ink lampoonery for decades in the Guardian, Private Eye and others, were joined by Guardian journalist Simon Hoggart.

In a seemingly unrehearsed, almost sixth-form-presentation-like manner, the doodlers took turns to explain themes, motivations and methods behind their work, accompanied only by examples shown on an overhead projector.

Rowson, the first up, was disappointing. Bizarrely, for someone who makes his living scorning those in positions of power, his turn consisted of anecdotes of how many of his subjects he'd hobnobbed with.

He mentioned Gilray, who some 200 years ago set the standards political cartoonists still aspire to, but seemingly only as a reflection that he himself was now of the same standing. The lowest point was a boast about how Mirror editor Piers Morgan had called him a "genius" at a party.

It seems petty to demand that an artist's behaviour match the message of his work, but it was irksome and boring listening to him reel off politicians he had met, especially as this was tempered with very little insight into how he goes about his undeniably magnificent work.

Steve Bell, on the other hand, did not disappoint. Clutching a cardboard folder and trying to hold the microphone while he found the correct cartoon, there was a lengthy pause until Hoggart suggested he use the microphone stand.

His almost bashful demeanour, coupled with his enthusiasm and willingness to reveal his methods, provided a welcome contrast.

The contrast was also reflected in the cartoons being displayed, with Bell's earthy, blunt humour, drawing on proletarian allusions and references, more accessible than Rowson's cerebral, highbrow style.

At the post-show book signing, the queue for Bell stretched across the room, while Rowson was virtually ignored.

Jon di Paolo