Katherine MacAlister discovers why ‘TV’s nicest man’ prefers touring smaller venues to doing arenas

Alan Carr is excited. Having been fine-tuning his new show for the past three years, TV’s campest comedian and chat show host is now ready and raring to go with Yap, Yap, Yap!

The master of observational comedy has also opted to see the whites of his audience’s eyes, so instead of booking a couple of arenas, the 38-year-old’s journey will be taking in an tyre- wearing 120-plus venue stops.

So why not take the easy route and just book London’s O2 for a week?

“In those big places, you can’t talk to the audience and the material doesn’t evolve. You don’t want to take the gamble of trying out new stuff in front of 12,000 people. If you mention the jumper of someone in the front row, 11,999 other people say, ‘What’s he on about?’ “So putting a show on in a theatre ensures everyone feels they have had a unique night that won’t happen anywhere else.”

He adds: “When you’re on a smaller stage, the audience transports you and you almost go into a trance.

“You want to perform for them, because they’re so lovely and you can’t let them down; it’s your responsibility to deliver. They just want to go out and have a laugh.”

But that sums up Alan, TV’s nicest man. His fans are amazingly loyal and his following seems to be ever-growing.

Which means taking a three-year hiatus from the stand-up comedy circuit wasn’t as big a gamble as it sounds.

“I don’t know how Jimmy Carr does it, touring all the time. But I’m lucky enough to have the chat show to keep me busy in between.

“And it means that, if I haven’t been touring for three years, it’s more of an event when I do.”

“Besides, I love live comedy,” he beams. “Sometimes the politics of doing the chat show and booking guests can be frustrating. And occasionally you do have a dud guest, with nothing to say.

“But when it’s just you on stage, with a mic, in front of lots of people who have come specifically to see you, it’s fantastic. You’re the boss. I get such a buzz on stage; it’s a complete adrenalin rush.”

But it’s the chat show that feeds the tour; something Alan is very aware of, having hosted 13 series of his C4 chat show, Alan Carr Chatty Man, for which he has won a BAFTA and numerous National Television Awards.

So why go on tour at all?

“When you dream up new material and think, ‘Great, I can add that to the set,’ it’s a wonderful feeling.

“If it works, a new joke always brings a smile to my face. It’s such a thrill. Now I can’t wait to get out on the road for the real deal.”

There’s also a lot that Alan wants to get off his chest. So what subjects will he be discussing on this tour?

“This show is very personal. It’s a gamble including so much personal stuff, but it pays dividends. The more personal stuff you put in, the more people go, ‘Aaah!’ Also, the audience can smell if you start lying in your act. There is an honesty in this show that people will appreciate.”

“So it’s about co-habiting and how it affects you. I talk about my partner. The show is about my life, so he has to be in it. I didn’t want to start lying and saying I still live on my own in Stretford.

“My partner doesn’t necessarily like being part of the show, but I said to him, ‘Look, it’s paying the bills. See those shoes you’re wearing? Comedy bought them, so stop moaning. The show is about manning up.”

Born in Weymouth and brought up in Northampton, Alan moved to Manchester – after having graduated with a 2:1 from Middlesex University – in a bid to make his fortune.

Oxford Mail:

He soon became a regular on the Manchester comedy circuit, before finding his voice on BBC Radio 2 and only standing down as one of the station’s Saturday presenters in March 2012, to focus on his Chatty Man show.

Alan also recently hosted Channel 4’s flagship fundraising show, Stand Up To Cancer, which went on to raise an amazing £14 million for Cancer Research.

It once again proved how devoted his fans can be.

“They’re always lovely,” he enthuses. “A lot of them want to mother me. I’ve got one of those faces that makes women want to put me on their chest and stroke my hair.

“Blokes do the same; they always want to nestle me on their chests.

“People are really warm. They feel they know me and they’re always bringing me presents.

“They bring me lots of knickers and ropey drinks for the globe on my chat show,” he giggles.

But there is also a downside to this showbusiness fame, which he discusses in the show “I have called it Yap, Yap, Yap! because there’s a lot of waffle out there.

“With blogs and Twitter, everyone has an opinion nowadays and Twitter can be a nasty, spiteful place.

“It makes you think the British public are awful. But Twitter isn’t real. It encourages a certain type of person. The real British public are lovely.

“Besides, I’ll be waffling on stage for two hours, so I’m adding to it. It’s my own fault.”

Has Alan now got used to his own notoriety, then?

“Yes,” he admits. “Fame is very nice. You get offered lots of great opportunities, so I’d never take it for granted.”

Alan Carr, Yap, Yap, Yap!
New Theatre, Oxford 
April 9 & May 7 
Tickets: atgtickets.com/shows/alan-carr/new-theatre-oxford