JACK Dee knows he doesn't come across as particularly approachable on TV. However, when people do say hello to the Bromley-born comedian, they're often pleasantly surprised.

"A lot of people say, 'Ah, so you do smile, don't you?'" quips the 56-year-old, arms folded tightly across his chest. "Of course I do. You can't be either one way or another 100 per cent of the time. But my default setting is that mildly depressed and unimpressed character."

Having made his name in stand-up and as the star of BBC One's Lead Balloon, Dee has most recently found success with ITV sitcom Bad Move, which he writes and stars in, and is back for a second series.

He plays Steve, who has made what was meant to be a dream move from the city to the countryside with his wife Nicky (played by Kerry Godliman). However, with a house that's falling apart, bad internet connection and various other neighbourhood woes, the decision to escape the rat race has turned into a bit of a nightmare. Did Dee worry about showing a different side to himself with this role?

"Of course - you're presenting something new and people's expectation of it is going to vary according to what they already know of you," he responds matter-of-factly. "They're going to have a certain pre-formed idea of what they're going to be seeing, and if that doesn't match up to their pre-formed idea, then that can become an obstacle for people to enjoy it. But I think people will give it a chance and think, 'Right he's not doing stand-up but this is a different thing' and hopefully enjoy it in the way that it's intended."

He has embraced how different the writing process is for a TV show, regardless. "Stand-up is not at its best if it's scripted - for me, anyway," he notes. "But with a sitcom, obviously you need the script and you've got many more voices to write for. Part of the challenge is to make sure all of those comic voices are different, that it's not just your comedy coming through every different mouth."

Discussing inspiration for the show, Dee himself has a house in the country where he's spending more and more time as an escape from living and working in London. "I'm in a very lucky position that I can do both," says the father-of-four, who married wife Jane in 1989. "I'm a bit nomadic anyway, so I quite like being able to move around."

He reveals that his children like watching Bad Move, and have spotted that real life may well have been used as fodder for the script at times. "They recognise various characters in there and different situations, some of which are very true to life and a bit closer to my character than Steve's," he admits drily.

Dee has become so famed for his grumpiness that it feels as though he doesn't even have to try to be funny anymore - all it takes is a facial expression.

Much to my amusement, his deadpan tone rarely falters throughout our interview at the ITV offices - though he does let out more chuckles and grins than I expected, and gives a lot of thought to some answers.

Asked whether he thinks it's easier or harder to become a comedian now, he ponders: "From younger comedians I've spoken to, part of the problem is the open mic, the open spot tradition, is somewhat being corrupted by commercial interests. Now you get an open spot, but you've got to bring in ten paying guests. So that makes it a very different thing from what it used to be. I was lucky it wasn't like that when I started, because there's no way I could have got ten people to pay to see me."

On the rise of female comics on the scene, Dee - whose career in the industry spans three decades - notes it's "a very healthy change that has taken place and is good to see happen".

But, he argues, there's always room for more diversity."I'm always amazed how white the audiences often are, and continue to be, even with a diverse bill on," he says. "You still have this thing where you have black comedy nights, and although I see the need, I think it's a shame that we have to split ourselves up like that."

Dee doesn't think any of his kids will follow in his footsteps career-wise: "They're all very diverse types of people and doing different things and finding their way in the world.

But he would never advise them against entering the world of comedy. "It's a very tough industry, but anything worthwhile is tough," says the star, who has been open about suffering from depression in the past. "Life is even tougher if you don't have a job, so you might as well do something."

For Dee, stand up is something he hopes he will always want to do. "It's a mistake to leave it alone for too long," he reflects. "I do always enjoy going back to it. I find it very liberating. It's a very immediate art form."

And in daily life he's always noting down stuff that could be used as material. "I don't think that will ever stop - that's partly why I need to keep going on stage. You need to do something with these thoughts, otherwise I'd just be boring people at home with it."

If he hadn't made it as an entertainer, what does Dee, who used to work in the restaurant business, reckon he would be doing for work? "I probably would have liked to do something practical. Sometimes I think I'd like to be a tree surgeon. And I do like climbing trees, so I think that would have been OK."

Indeed, it sounds like getting out in nature is how Dee relaxes - he likes swimming, sailing, kayaking. "I just like being on the water when I can," he says. "I cook a lot. I like to plan things and do that."

With a laugh, he adds: "I'm a very rounded, healthy person."

* Bad Move returns to ITV on Wednesday.