Never try to be witty with U.S. airport officials. It's always lost on them and you'll find yourself being put back on the plane.

I think it sort of dawns on you that if you're not gigging constantly you're not actually relevant. You may be relevant to a different part of the media now, to television commissioners and editors, but to a young live-comedy audience you're not, really.

Up North you are holding your own. Everyone considers themselves a comedian.

Writing a book about yourself is like therapy, and you go 'Oh My God, that's the reason that happened.' Writing about it, you're forced to really examine things.

With stand-up you've just got that one chance. Audiences can be quite fickle.

My work's never been accepted by my family, but it's something I'll always carry on with.

Some comics are in it for what they can get out of it. Others are in it for a love of comedy. I think those that are in it for a genuine love of comedy find each other within the circuit and become friends.