Simon Evans is that rarest of breeds, the modest comedian. Softly-spoken and self-effacing to a fault, he admits to being out of step with the mainstream, but insists that does give him a clear perspective on society – which he regrets is steadily dumbing down.

“There has been a decline in human intelligence, but also a decline in my own,” he laughs.

“I seem to be experiencing more and more Wogan-esque ‘senior moments’.”

It is the insight informed by age, life experience and a willingness to highlight his own failings, which form the basis of his new show Genius – which he brings to the inaugural Chipping Norton Comedy Festival on Saturday.

“My show is about the frustrations of middle age,” says the 52 year-old. “But it’s also about discussing intelligence, which is something not very evident in public life at the moment. There’s an absence of gleaming statesmen in the higher echelons of the establishment. Where have they gone and did we ever have them?”

Not given to histrionics like some hyperactive fellow comics, Simon delivers wry observations with a generous measure of dry wit.

The thinking person’s comedian, he has won fans for his appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and with his acclaimed Edinburgh fringe show. He has contributed to a string of TV hits including Not Going Out, Eight Out of Ten Cats and They Think It’s All Over, and his radio credits include The News Quiz, The Mighty Boosh and, most recently, his own show Simon Evans Goes To Market.

His wry observations and informed common sense have seem him dubbed a right wing comedian.

“I’ve never thought of myself as right wing,” he says. “But as we get older we become less egalitarian and drift a little to authoritarianism.

“I like the idea of authoritarian figures who know what they are talking about.

“The left wing consensus in comedy is growing like a whirlwind, dragging people in and creating a big feedback loop. But I can’t be the only one who voted for the other side.

“I feel a duty to announce ‘it’s okay to say Jeremy Corbyn would be a disaster’. But you don’t have to agree. Perhaps someone could convince me we should give Corbyn a go?”

He goes on: “There’s definitely a group thing in politics though, and it’s much easier to get a laugh if you are going with the group.

“I’ve even had people accuse me of being a dupe of right wing conspiracy theories. I’m not a grizzled old-timer, though, just sceptical about too much enthusiasm about what politicians can achieve – which is a libertarian point of view.”

Economics are a passion. In Simon Evans Goes To Market, he used a mix of humour and contributions by experts to explore such hot potatoes as tax, the health service and philanthropy – making money funny through ‘jokenomics’.

“I don’t want to be categorised as ‘the economics guy’,” he says. “It’s just a way of approaching human nature.

“It started because I observed that people still didn’t know why things happen, such as the price of gold going up, and decided it would be good to have a radio show.

“The financial crash of 2008 made people realise that the way the world is run is out of the hands of politicians. The financial global system has become quite dystopian because no one is in charge and there is an appetite for knowing how it works.”

He adds: “I like to think I’m quite grounded in reality, not ad-libbing flights of fancy.

“I have more in common with Jasper Carrott than comedians of my generation.

“I find pessimists funny. People like Russell Howard know the mindset of their audience, but his whole show is anathema to me.

“You have to simplify your message and core proposition. You have to sharpen your blade. You can’t throw tennis balls over the net one minute, then footballs and rugby balls.”

But he adds: “First and foremost the aim is to make people laugh. If it gets a laugh it doesn’t matter.

“The reason I got into comedy was Morecambe and Wise, because I could see the effect they had on my dad. If you laugh you are less likely to go home and kick the cat.

“But Morecambe and Wise never felt the urge to discuss the idea of a minimum wage.”

His set is among the highlights of this weekend’s comedy festival, which also stars Ellie Taylor and Mark Watson. The festival is the brainchild of organiser Ken Norman, of the town’s Cotswold Comedy Club – now Flock Comedy.

Also appearing are ‘Irish know-it-all’ Keith Farnan and George Egg, the self-styled DIY Chef, who performs while preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner with power tools, a wallpaper stripper, heat gun, office equipment and gardening implements.

Coming home is former Chipping Norton School pupil Lucy Pearman, who performs her successful Edinburgh show Maid of Cabbage.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” says Simon. "The festival is run by friends of mine and is a really nice size.

“I would much rather be able to play small theatres, with 200 people, and make a living. It’s on a human scale which is what makes it appealing; I can get up close to the audience rather than playing a huge venue and be blasted into their faces.

“I wouldn’t turn down an arena tour, but I’d rather play a nice Victorian theatre than run around in front of 10,000 people like Michael McIntyre.

“And who wouldn’t want to be at Chipping Norton Comedy Festival this weekend? It might just be my age, but I am really enjoying the tendency for people to take matters into their own hands by organising events like this. More power to them!”

Chipping Norton Comedy Festival runs tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets from Chipping Norton Theatre on 01608 642350 or chipnorcomfest.com

and, most recently, his own show Simon

Evans Goes To Market.

His wry observations and informed common sense have seen him dubbed a right wing comedian.

“I’ve never thought of myself as right wing,” he says. “But as we get older we become less egalitarian and drift a little to authoritarianism. I like the idea of authoritarian figures who know what they are talking about.

“The left wing consensus in comedy is growing like a whirlwind, dragging people in and creating a big feedback loop. But I can’t be the only one who voted for the other side.

“I feel a duty to announce ‘it’s okay to say Jeremy Corbyn would be a disaster’. But you don’t have to agree. Perhaps someone could convince me we should give Corbyn a go?”

“There’s definitely a group thing in politics though, and it’s much easier to get a laugh if you are going with the group.

“I’ve even had people accuse me of being a dupe of right wing conspiracy theories. I’m not a grizzled old-timer, though, just sceptical about too much enthusiasm about what politicians can achieve – which is a libertarian point of view.”

Economics are a passion. In Simon Evans Goes To Market, he uses a mix of humour and contributions by experts to explore such hot potatoes as tax, the health service and philanthropy – making money funny through “jokenomics”.

“I don’t want to be categorised as ‘the economics guy’,” he says. “It’s just a way of approaching human nature.

“It started because I observed that people still didn’t know why things happen, such as the price of gold going up, and decided it would be good to have a radio show.

“The financial crash of 2008 made people realise that the way the world is run is out of the hands of politicians. The financial global system has become quite dystopian because no one is in charge. There is an appetite for knowing how it works.”

He adds: “I like to think I’m quite grounded in reality, not ad-libbing flights of fancy.

“I have more in common with Jasper Carrott than comedians of my generation.

“I find pessimists funny. People like Russell Howard know the mindset of their audience, but his whole show is anathema to me.

“You have to simplify your message and core proposition. You have to sharpen your blade. You can’t throw tennis balls over the net one minute, then footballs and rugby balls.”

But he adds: “First and foremost the aim is to make people laugh. If it gets a laugh it doesn’t matter.

“The reason I got into comedy was Morecambe and Wise, because I could see the effect they had on my dad. If you laugh you are less likely to go home and kick the cat.

“But Morecambe and Wise never felt the urge to discuss the idea of a minimum wage.”

His set is among the highlights of this weekend’s comedy festival, which also stars Ellie Taylor and Mark Watson. The festival is the brainchild of organiser Ken Norman, of the town’s Cotswold Comedy Club – now Flock Comedy club.

Also appearing are “Irish know-it-all” Keith Farnan and George Egg, the self-styled DIY Chef, who performs while preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner with power tools, a wallpaper stripper, heat gun, office equipment and gardening implements.

Coming home is former Chipping Norton School pupil Lucy Pearman, who performs her Edinburgh show Maid of Cabbage.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” says Simon. “The festival is run by friends of mine and is a really nice size.

“I would much rather be able to play small theatres, with 200 people, and make a living. It’s on a human scale which is what makes it appealing.; I can get up close to the audience rather than playing a huge venue and be blasted into their faces. I wouldn’t turn down an arena tour, but I’d rather play a nice Victorian theatre than run around in front of 10,000 people like Michael McIntyre.

“And who wouldn’t want to be at Chipping Norton Comedy Festival this weekend? It might just be my age, but I am really enjoying the tendency for people to take matters into their own hands by organising events like this. More power to them!”

Chipping Norton Comedy Festival runs tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets from Chipping Norton Theatre on 01608 642350 or chipnorcomfest.com