Quite possibly we are heading for an explosion of live entertainment in the post-lockdown world and comedian Alan Carr said that he’d be only too happy to lead it.

TV personality and self-proclaimed ’chatty man’ Alan is returning to stand up comedy, after breaking out of 18 long months of lockdown, with his new comedy tour ’Regional Trinket’.

Alan will appear at the Villa Marina over two nights on Thursday and Friday, December 2 and 3, from 8pm.

With the nation being starved of live entertainment for much of the past two years, and with our live performers unable to go out in front of an audience, Alan said that he can’t wait to get back out in front of a crowd again, despite the odd feeling of trepidation.

’I’m so excited about it! I can’t wait to get out there again,’ he said.

’Don’t get me wrong, when I’m waiting in the wings to go on stage, I’m thinking, "oh my God, why am I doing this? Can I get my job back at Tesco?"

’But, as soon as I go on, the buzz is amazing. You ask any comedian. When a brand-new joke you have worked on gets a big cheer or a laugh, it’s a wonderful feeling.

’During lockdown, I’ve just realised how much I love stand-up and the interaction with the audience.’

With his new show, ’Regional Trinket’, a self-deprecating poke at the over-used ’national treasure’ title, Alan will be looking at his and other’s experience of the lockdown and hoping that laughing about it can provide that cathartic release from the past couple of years.

’I’m not going to mock the disease. It’s going to be all about lockdown and people hoarding toilet rolls,’ he said.

’Personally, I regressed to a 13-year-old. I did all the things I used to enjoy as a 13-year-old - birdwatching, jigsaw puzzles, Cluedo. It was a surprise that I didn’t start playing Knock Down Ginger.

’I want people to leave with a smile on their faces, and I want to spread a lot of joy. After the last 18 months, I know audiences need a laugh.

’During the warm-ups for this tour, I got the impression that everyone was just so excited to be out of the house!

’People were howling with laughter - I didn’t know whether the jokes were that good or they were just happy to be out!

’There is a pent-up desire for the shared experience of a live show. You can feel it in the air.’

Alan hopes that the ending of the lockdown will see more importance in live performing, and an explosion of creative talent.

’It is a lot like the aftermath of the Spanish Flu Epidemic. In the Roaring 20s, there was a sudden creative burst of dance, music, jazz and theatre.

’Wouldn’t it be amazing if after the lockdown and the awful, awful year we’ve had, there was a real renaissance for everyone - starting with my show!’

l Tickets for Alan Carr’s ’Regional Trinkets’ show are £25.50, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office, on 600555, and online from villagaiety.com