Andrew Lawrence speaks ahead of Wolverhampton show

Yet, when questions were sent to Andrew asking about his previous political statements on Twitter, the star declined to respond to any queries of a political nature.

Regardless of your opinion on Andrew, he’s carved out a very successful career from being so dividing - constantly hitting the headlines and having appeared on TV shows aplenty, from Michael MacIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow in 2010, to documentary The Outcast Comic in 2016.

He also won the BBC New Act of The Year award in 2004.

Andrew will bring his Happy Accident Tour to Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms on October 22 - a venue the 37-year-old comic says he always looks forward to playing.

“I have been to the area a lot of times doing stand-up shows. The Slade Rooms is a great venue for stand-up comedy. It’s one you always look forward to in the diary,” said Andrew.

“It seems like there is an excellent stand-up scene in the Midlands generally, the audiences tend to be quite easy-going, open-minded and up for a giggle, so as a comic it’s always a nice part of a stand-up tour when you find yourself in that part of the country.”

Speaking ahead of the city centre show, Andrew says his set will be filled with ‘an hour and a half of the funniest jokes (he’s) come up with over the past year’.

“I’ll just be messing around, saying a lot of things I probably shouldn’t,” he added.

“Audiences can expect a really good laugh and a fun night out.”

Andrew first started doing stand-up as a student at University of St Andrews, where he would perform at a regular comedy night. His experience on stage at university then led to him perform at the Edinburgh Fringe, where he was runner-up in the 2003 So You Think You’re Funny competition. Subsequently, he won the Amused Moose Starsearch, York Comedy Festival New Act of the Year Competition and the BBC’s New Act of the Year Competition in 2004. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I entered the three or four national new act competitions that existed back in 2003 when I started. I won three of them and came second in the other,” explained Andrew.

“Then I started getting offered unpaid five minute spots at comedy clubs all around the country, where I had to pay for my own travel to go and prove I was good enough to be there, and if I did, I’d be invited back for a paid gig.

“Over a year and a half I’d built up enough paid work to give up my day job and do stand-up full-time.

“A year after that, I went up to Edinburgh and was nominated for the best newcomer award. The following year I went back and was nominated for the main Edinburgh Comedy Award.

“I then spent several years headlining comedy clubs around the country until I managed to get on a showcase audition gig for BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

“I got a better reaction from the audience than the other acts at that showcase audition and so was invited on the programme.

“Following my appearance on that programme, I was able to start doing my own tour shows and selling tickets in my own name.”

When asked why he went into comedy, the Surrey-born star says he was inspired by 60s and 70s sitcoms - and cannot remember ever wanting to do anything else.

“When I was growing up I loved watching old sitcoms, particularly Steptoe and Son and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. In terms of stand-up, I always come back to George Carlin, I don’t think there has been anyone better,” said Andrew.

“I can only ever remember wanting to do comedy. I don’t think I’ve ever had ambitions to do or be anything else.

“I just want to keep getting better as a stand-up, keep making audiences laugh, keep selling tour tickets.

“I’m happy to do the occasional bit of TV or radio when it crops up, but all I’ve ever wanted to do is live stand-up and that will remain my focus.

“I’d like to be at a level where I could play a hundred tour dates at 500- to 800-seat theatres once every few years, that’s what I’m working towards.”

By Kirsten Rawlins