‘Unusual and exciting’ nonsense language show comes to Leamington

“It’s one of the only times I wear a bow tie. I like to look smart for the radio, “ he said.

“But when I go in front of a live audience, I wear my nice ties. That’s also enjoyable.”

The Buckinghamshire-born man is bringing his show, Still Life, to the Spa Centre next weekend - and it will be, he says, “an unsual, exciting journey for the audience”.

Speaking to the Courier ahead of the gig, Paul said: “During the first half-hour, there is lots of laughter - and yet the show has not actually started. When I do eventually start the show, it is not in English but in a nonsense language, controlled by a hobby horse.”

Having started out studying maths at Oxford University intent on a career as an accountant, Paul - who many may recognise from his plethora of television appearances on shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Stand Up Show and the New Comedy Awards, not to mention his regular stints on BBC radio - tried out stand-up as a student because his friends told him he was funny.

He said: “I loved it and decided to do it for the rest of my life.

“I just go on stage and make it all up. It’s improvisation. You go with the flow and find how the audience is. My whole career was done on a whim.”

He now regularly performs at stand-up venues across London, recently took Still Life to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is soon off to bring his unique style of comedy to Australia.

He said: “It’s always nice to cheer people up.

“Hopefully what I get out of it is knowing that I have made people fell less miserable. Plus I get money, acclaim, fame and sex. That’s mainly what I am doing it for.”

Paul Foot is coming to the Spa Centre’s studio theatre on Saturday October 8 at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £12 or £11 if booked online. Call 334418 or go online.