Having risen to stardom in his homeland Irish comic Dara O'Briain returns to Brighton after a warm reception at the 2003 Comedy Festival.

O'Briain should now be even better known to the British public after appearing as guest host on the BBC hit Have I Got News For You and presenting the first national series of the Live Floor Show.

Due to his often hectic schedule mixing regular television appearances in Ireland with stand-up tours the world over, O'Briain's style is focused on a high turnover of material. The relaxed comic is neither political nor aggressive but remains genuinely entertaining.

Indeed, he is careful not to repeat material and frequently engages the audience asking them to guess his age or make suggestions about his life. This attempt to get the dialogue flowing often gives an almost radio phone-in feel to proceedings. "There's a lot of off-the-cuff stuff that I do," he says. "Frankly it just helps keep it fresh for me."

Over the past few years O'Briain has taken his act to such far-flung destinations as Hong Kong and Shanghai.

"It always sounds very exotic, like you're on some kind of cultural exchange," he explains. "But ultimately it's just for the ex-pats."

Indeed, O'Briain's exploits abroad have gained him a considerable following, especially in Australia, where successive tours have landed him guest slots on game show The Panel.

A former children's television presenter, O'Briain used his comedic style to win over debate audiences at university from which he graduated with a degree in Mathematics.

"There's a culture in Ireland of big, public debates that I would do a couple of times a week," he says. "You end up cracking a few jokes at those events."

Despite regular jaunts on television O'Briain is loyal to his "stand-up roots".

"At heart I prefer doing stand-up," insists the comic. "The TV work just raises your profile and gets more people to gigs."

And on the subject of any burgeoning rivalry with the many other Irish comedians who have recently become so prevalent in British culture, O'Briain suggests "it's very much like standing next to the urinal and having a look down at the guy next to you. There's often a camaraderie with the Irish comics. After all, our common enemy is the audience."

O'Briain's work ethic and unconventional style is such that further television exposure may not be necessary to ensure proper appreciation of his stand-up gigs.

"The audience brings the best moments to stand-up. The worst thing you could do would be to presume that if you say the same words, in the same order, and with the same pauses, it will get a laugh."

Starts 7.30pm, Tickets £11/£12, Tel 01273 709709