Alan Carr: Yap Yap Yap

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Church Street, Thursday, November 19, to Saturday, November 21

THE extra work Alan Carr has been putting into his live show is clear from his croaky voice as he talks on the phone to The Guide.

He talks about downscaling the size of the show and why you shouldn’t buy his new DVD - yet.

The Guide: What does the tour’s title Yap, Yap, Yap refer to? Is it how you see stand-up?

Alan: What started it off was how everybody has a comment to make these days. That sparks off the show – it fits nicely with me always talking!

Why are you playing the smaller shows this time?

I did an arena tour with Spexy Beast which I really enjoyed, but one thing I realised was the show was the same every night. You have got to have balls of steel to try a new joke in front of 12,000 people. I didn’t talk too personally – I went for broader themes. Going back to 3,000 seaters created a more intimate show. I feel like I can talk about my family and personal things.

What is it you don’t like about the arenas?

The front row was 8ft away, and they weren’t looking at me – they were looking at the TV screens. It was like performing to a lot of people with lazy eyes! My heart would go out to the people in Row Z. I didn’t want it to be rubbish because you didn’t see me or feel part of it.

What are you doing on your time off?

I have two god-daughters who live down in Brighton, as well as one of my best friends, so I will be spending a lot of time with them. I have two Irish setters that I will be taking to Devil’s Dyke – it’s a real treat for a dog, especially as they’re normally stuck in London.

When you’re in a place for three days you do get to explore – you end up in places like pencil museums or going down a mine.

When I went to Wales I went out on a boat looking for dolphins – there was more chance of seeing a mermaid!

You can’t go on a pub crawl, but you have to do something. I’m a National Trust member – I do like a stately home and a cream tea. I have seen Great Britain...

You spend the day bored and killing time – then at 8pm there’s this tsunami of nerves. It’s a weird existence – it’s like a rollercoaster of emotion.

Does it help the show?

Local references can endear you to an audience – something a bit rubbish you’ve seen, or a rough pub you have been to. When you’re doing a 12,000 seater normally people are coming from all over and might not know the area.

People do say when they see me: “Have you been away?” I look weather-beaten like Captain Birdseye, I’ve been walking the streets getting skin like leather. You do see life...

You began your career by winning the 2001 BBC New Comedy Award, and have since been presented with British Comedy Awards and a BAFTA. Do you get blasé about award ceremonies?

You get all these people saying “I put my BAFTA in the toilet”. Mine are all on display. People think I’ve got the biggest head going.

It’s nice when the public have voted for you. It’s amazing having watched the BAFTAs as a kid never dreaming I would have one on my shelf. I never get blasé – it could all end tomorrow.

You have performed for The Queen at a Royal Variety Performance – would you like to add to your collection? Feel the sword cutting through the shoulderpad perhaps?

I wouldn’t want an OBE – I would like to be a baron. Baron Alan – it has such a ring to it.

What made you take on a chat show like Chatty Man?

One thing I love about stand-up is you have this control. If a joke isn’t going well you can feed an audience up with gags or put a bit more energy into it. But on a chat show it’s a two-way street – if you have a Hollywood star who doesn’t want to talk it can be tough.

I said I didn’t want it to be like other chat shows – I want it to be like someone coming into my house for a drink and a chat. I couldn’t gush about how a book has changed my life.

What sort of reaction do you get from US stars used to a more slick style of show?

Are you saying Chatty Man isn’t slick?! The thing is you get them coming back – Channing Tatum and Bradley Cooper have both come back – Bradley followed me on Twitter!

It’s a bit of fun – I get them when they’ve been doing junkets all day. They come down, get a glass of Lambrini and an audience that is on their side and no loaded questions, getting them to do something silly.

One of those silly things was getting Adam Lambert to sing Bohemian Rhapsody with you. What had Freddie Mercury ever done to you?

At least it wasn’t as bad as Kanye West. I knew some of the words...

It must be strange to release your Yap Yap Yap DVD while still on tour?

If you ask any comedian the DVD record is always the most miserable audience – but I had the opposite, it was one of the best nights. I even got a standing ovation.

The DVD is being released now because we’ve been adding dates to the tour. I just hope and pray people don’t see the DVD before the show.

Don’t buy the DVD – buy it afterwards! It’s the same show – have a bit of common sense. It will make a lovely Christmas gift though...

Starts 8pm, tickets £31. Call 01273 709709.