Comedy: Lee Hurst at Fairfield Halls, Croydon (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Comedy: Lee Hurst at Fairfield Halls, Croydon

8:00am Monday 25th January 2010 in

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He made his name as a panellist on They Think It's All Over (which unbelievably he left 12 years ago) but these days Lee Hurst gets to pick and choose his gigs. On Saturday, he will be at Fairfield Halls for a one-off show and talks to GRAHAM MOODY about the popular quiz show and his favourite up-and-coming comics as well as warning people against filming him.

Graham Moody: This gig isn't part of a tour is it?

Lee Hurst: No, it's just a one-off gig. I was approached by a guy who asked if I fancied it and I thought ok then. That's how I approach my appearances at the moment. I do just enough to keep my toe in and if I get a semblance that I am not enjoying it then I will stop. The gig at Fairfield will be a mixture of improvisation and material, there has to be material to act as a structural frame to the whole evening.

GM: You used to own the Backyard Comedy Club but closed it down, why?

LH: I thought I had had enough of that stuff and wondered if I should stop comedy altogether. Then I went to Iraq and did a week there, really enjoyed myself and realised I still wanted to do this so maybe I was a bit rash. When somebody else wanted to comedy there I said fill your boots and he set up the Fymfyg Bar with me ending up as MC. I still own the land and the building but the venue is no longer mine.

GM: You must see a lot of comics coming through, anyone we should look out for?

LH: Marlon Davis is a young guy who is going to be big and Nathan Caton is another up-and-coming one to watch. Both are really good and were closing almost instantly at Fymfyg because they were that strong.

GM: You left They Think It's All Over after just two years, why?

LH: Looking back I wished they had listened to me but they didn't and that's why I left. It was running out of steam and needed some reconstructive surgery but the ratings were going up and up so they didn't think there was a problem. Where we used to have a wealth of material we were only just getting enough to make the show by the time I left. I they wanted me to do it again now I would say I would go and have a look and see what they intended doing. I would tell them to bring in people from the comedy circuit who are funny rather than people who are famous.

GM: You've been pretty outspoken about people filming your gigs before haven't you?

LH: Yes, it angers every single comic out there. You will get the odd ones who will praise it but they will be really successful ones or 'rebels' who think its rebellious to say that, but most comics are totally against it.

Lee Hurst, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, January 30, 8pm, £16.50. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.