6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

I had a nice natter with Martin Freeman in the street after bumping into him with my daughter. She walked away squeezing my hand saying "Oh my god. That was so cool" So thanks to Sherlock my daughter thinks my job has its plus points. Generally she hates me being away from home.

My dad decided I just about had a proper job after I did a gig with Barry Cryer.

My great grandfather was a minister. My dad was a lay preacher. My sister is a vicar and she thinks I have narrowly missed the family profession.

No one in my family, myself included , had no idea it would last this long.

7. What's the worst thing about being a comedian?**

Service stations and Ginsters.

**I have not thought of myself as a stand up for years. I occupy a weird space between stand up, theatre and journalism. I always say in interviews "If you watch Dave more than 3 times a week don't come to the show. It's not for you" and I mean it.

8. I think you are very good at what you do (that's why I'm asking these questions). What do you think of you?

Obsessed with proving worth and uniqueness but am always capable of better things. Should work harder.  Constantly worry about next show. My track record over the past 29 years is paradoxically unique and worthless. What matters is always what you do next. A comics career ladder is one where each rung is on fire behind them.

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

It depends on what kind of a year I have had. Varies wildly.

10. How important is luck in terms of career success - have you had lucky
breaks?

If you view the comedy world through the prism of Judy Garland lucky breaks then it by passes the slog and hard work done by comics and the manipulation done by their agents.

Michael McIntyre didn't have a series of lucky breaks he had a very skilful and aggressive agent who meticulously planned his ascent. It helped that his agent owned a TV company and managed other important stars.

TV needs half decent comics, look how many channels there are and they can't afford to be filling their airtime with award winning Swedish noir dramas. Comics are relatively cheap for TV, they come with their own material, they have a vested interest in doing the best they can and there is a lot of airtime to fill. Luck has little to do with the machinations of comedy.

Having said that I have worked with some brilliant directors on Bravo Figaro!, Walking the Wall and Cuckooed, I do regard myself as lucky at having the opportunity to work with them.

11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you - or do you think you fit into a third category?

He left out performers with a work ethic,  those fortunate enough to have been brought up in boughs of hard work.

If I am a tortured artist there are plenty who will argue I am not tortured enough.

*this might be a lie.