Stewart Francis aims to hit you with his machine gun comedy and leave you in hysterics at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil

In 2012, The Canadian comic was given the prize by digital TV channel Dave, whose panel put a selection of their favourites to a public vote.

He won for the joke: "You know who really gives kids a bad name? Posh and Becks."

And that laugh you just had is what makes Stewart smile the most.

He said: "The sweetest laugh is a genuine laugh.

"It is the one which you know you have impacted on someone's life through your work.

"You have made them laugh and you enjoy the fact you have made them laugh.

"What I try and do all the time is to be better and better.

"I do not want to plateau as a comic but want to improve.

"If I think I have got to the stage where I have plateaued then I will give it up.

"I want to reach the level at which I think my talent can take me."

Stewart will be in Yeovil at the Octagon Theatre for The All-Star Stand-Up Tour on May 4.

He will be joined by Justin Moorhouse and Mike Gunn. The show will be compared by Jarred Christmas.

Stewart has been doing his comic turns for 30 years and he still gets a buzz from doing a gig be it at a Festival or in a theatre.

Explaining why, he said: "Depending on how it goes on the night.

"I always want to give a good performance and for everything to go right.

"If it does then there is a buzz, the audience are happy and it has been a magical night of entertainment.

"What I want to achieve is leave the audience wanting more. Leave them on a high and leave them laughing.

"Being a comedian on stage means there is no censorship.

"I can say what I want in the spots in the show I think it should go.

"Free expression is a great thing to have. I like the ability to do this and do find it liberating.

"Being a comedian is my job and it gives me everything.

"I have lived a charmed life with it as comedy has opened up so many doors. So it means everything to me.

"As I do one liners a lot of my act is scripted so it does not allow me to ad lib.

"But when I get the chance I do take it.

"What I don't want is comedy which is contrived.

"Yes inspiration can come at any time.

"It can happen when I am watching television or I hear something.

"Yes I do have a machine gun quality with the jokes, with one coming on top of the other.

"What excites m is I am doing a good job and making people happy."

Stewart has written for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno which he rates as one of the highlights of his life and his comic career.

Even though as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan he has written for Hockey News which for sports fans must be exciting he still rates the Tonight Show as higher.

Stewart said: "I could write for The Hockey News in my sleep as I am a Canadian.

"Writing for the Tonight Show was much harder as you are competing with so many other writers.

"I sent my contribution via fax to Big Dog Productions which is Jay Leno's company and then they got back to me.

"My joke was used as the last one in the monologue. I still have the grainy VHS tape of the show with my joke and still have the cheque.

A number of famous comedians wrote for The Tonight Show including Woody Allen or Dick Cavett for the Johnny Carson Show.

As Stewart said: "Doing this allowed them to find their own voice and allow them to use what they considered their best stuff for themselves instead of giving to someone else."

- Tickets for The All-Star Stand-Up Tour at The Octagon Theatre cost £22 Footlights/Groups 10+: Discount Applies This performance may contain adult material that some might find offensive.

Age Recommendation: 15+ For further information and to buy tickets go online at octagon-theatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01935 422884.