Comedian Russell Howard kicks off his UK arena tour in February. He discusses the art of stand-up, the success of his Good News series and a possible return to Mock The Week. He was born in Bristol in 1980, has appeared on Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and in his acclaimed BBC3 show, Russell Howard’s Good News.

His new UK arena tour Right Here, Right Now brings him to Newcastle, and Russell Howard’s Good News: Series One is out now on DVD.

We loved the recent series of Good News. were you happy with the result?

IT’S really hard work but because of the format of it – getting news clips linked into the stuff is quite time consuming, but it’s kind of worth it in the end because I’m proud of it.

It’s one of BBC3’s highest-rated shows. Is there pressure on you to move to BBC2?

I’m not fussed really. If it happens, it happens. I kind of don’t concern myself with anything like that. I just sit down and write it and see what happens. Things like ratings and stuff – as soon as you start worrying about that then you kind of lose sight of the show.

Your UK arena tour starts next month. Does your comedy work better in certain parts of the country than others?

I don’t know. I’ve not really thought about it, to be honest. Generally, the gigs in the far reaches of England and Britain are normally good fun and a bit wild. Places that are a long way from the motorway always seem to have a really nice kind of feel to them, and I don’t know why that is, but in general there’s no part I look forward to more than others. I like Bristol, obviously, because it’s our homecoming gig. I like doing Wales because I can do a decent Welsh accent. I guess places that are far-flung tend to have people who are a lot more chatty than maybe big city gigs.

You’re famed for your quick-fire delivery. Have you made a rod for your back in having to write more material than some comics?

I tried to stop that because it makes it harder to digest. Weirdly, doing bigger rooms makes it a bit easier to slow down. I wish I was a bit slower. I just get too excited. It’s when I’m at my happiest.

You once said you needed to be left alone just before a gig. Is that also the case before a TV show?

Yeah, because my TV show is a live gig. We do an hour-and-a-half in front of 400 people, and then we pick apart half an hour from it.

Would you like to write a sitcom?

I don’t know if I have the skills. I wouldn’t mind it, but I don’t know if I could do it. It takes a real talent. You look at something like The Inbetweeners and you think: ‘‘Oh God. If I’d been able to write something like that...’’ What’s great about that is it touches so many different people across all ages. Even though it’s set in a young person’s world, it’s still funny if you’re 40 or 15.

You just write stuff that you think is funny. I’d hate to be one of those people who puts a line over people that are allowed to enjoy them. The more, the merrier. Anyone’s welcome really.

Finally, will you return to Mock The Week this year?

I think the new series is in June so if it doesn’t collide with my show (Good News) then yes.

That’s the problem. I had to stop doing them last year because it was in the same time period and I felt as if I’d spread myself a bit thin.

* Russell Howard, MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle, February 24-25, Tickets: £25.

Box Office: 0844-493-6666 metroradioarena.co.uk