A sharp’n’sassy laughter merchant renowned for blending camp comedy with belly laughs to maximum effect, Alan Carr this month makes a welcome return to the Midlands with his brand new show, Yap, Yap, Yap!. 

What’s On recently chatted to the Chatty Man to find out what his legion of fans can expect...

In the middle of my interview with Alan Carr, a very loud police siren starts wailing in the background. “I’m so in demand even the police want me,” jokes Alan. “Or maybe they’ve seen my act and want to arrest me!”

This is typical of the quick-witted humour of one of the country’s finest comics. 
Alan is about to underline just how brilliant he is by embarking on his first major stand-up tour for three years. 

The show will certainly be coming to a theatre near you - the tour takes in an eye-watering one hundred-and-twenty-plus venues. 

The comic, who boasts a huge nationwide following after hosting thirteen series of his C4 chat show, Alan Carr Chatty Man, says, “I adore touring - it keeps me out of mischief! This is the biggest tour I’ve ever done.

“I love live comedy. Sometimes the politics of doing the chat show and booking guests can be frustrating. And occasionally you’ll 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’ve come specifically to see you, it’s fantastic. You’re the boss. I get such a buzz on stage. It’s a complete adrenaline rush. 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.”

Alan’s loyal fanbase is mobilised whenever he tours. “Some venues have sold out within five minutes,” the comic reveals. “People have apparently been sleeping outside to get tickets. Oh please, stop it - that’s sweet, but unnecessary. 

“I always leave it three years between tours. 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.”

Alan has amazingly devoted fans. “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!”

The warmth of his fans gives Alan a real glow. “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. 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.” 

Such is his rapport with his fans that Alan has deliberately chosen to perform at more intimate venues on the Yap, Yap, Yap! tour. “I could’ve played arenas and done the tour within a month, but in those big places you can’t talk to the audience. If you mention the jumper of someone in the front row, eleven thousand, nine hundred-and-ninety-nine other people say, ‘What’s he on about?’

“With arena shows, the material doesn’t evolve. You don’t want to take the gamble of trying out new stuff in front of twelve thousand people. And if you lose the room at an arena, you can’t get it back because it’s so big. Putting on a show in a theatre, everyone there feels they’ve had a unique night that won’t happen anywhere else.

“When you’re on stage, the audience transports you and you almost go into a trance. These people have paid good money to see you, and you can’t let them down. If they’ve had a crap day, they just want to go out and have a laugh - and it’s your responsibility to deliver. You want to perform for them because they’re so lovely.”

So what subjects will Alan be discussing in Yap, Yap, Yap!? “The show’s very personal. It’s a gamble including so much personal stuff, but it pays dividends. Also, the audience can smell it if you start lying in your act. There’s an honesty in this show that people will appreciate.

“The show’s about co-habiting and how it affects you. I talk about my partner. The show’s 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.

“I called it Yap, Yap, Yap! because there’s a lot of waffle out there. With blogs and Twitter, everyone has an opinion nowadays. I can’t believe I’ll be waffling on stage for two hours - I’m adding to all that waffle. It’s my own fault!”

The good news is that even if you can’t make it along to a live show, you’ll still be able to enjoy Yap, Yap, Yap! - Alan is recording a brand new live DVD of the show at the Hammersmith Apollo on Friday 25 September. It’s due for release by Universal Pictures (UK) later this autumn. 

Despite his high profile, Alan remains the same really grounded person he’s always been. “Fame is very nice,” he observes. “I’d never take it for granted; you get lots of great opportunities. The other day I was asked to present a Pride Of Britain Award, and that was great. And I also get marvellous presents. So if the fans who’re coming to the show could bring me some awful wine to put in my globe on the chat show, that would be very much appreciated!”