INTERVIEWS can be a bore.

If you have heard it once, you have heard it a thousand times.

But it is the skill of a journalist to ask the questions to illicit the greatest answers, but even then that can be kyboshed, if the interviewee won’t play ball.

But when it came to interviewing Ed Bryne, it was a sheer delight.

He was amusing, charming and self effacing, without actually making it sound like he was ‘doing an act’ down the phone.

No, he was Ed Byrne and he answered my questions with clarity and thoughtfulness, which I have to admit made everything he said sound fresh and straight out of the box.

Ed Bryne is a master of his comedy craft, honing his talents since he was at university, working in the Student Union where he would act as compare before introducing acts.

It was his first taste of ‘showbusiness’ and Ed not only liked the taste, but wanted to go back again and again. Like an allyou- can-eat comedy buffet.

But to keep going back, you have to become good at what you do and when it comes to comedy, Ed Bryne is at the top of his game.

He will be bringing his ‘A game’ when he performs three gigs in Somerset with his new show, Spoiler Alert.

The first will be on January 19 at the Cheese and Grain in Frome; the second on January 23 at the McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater and the third on January 30 in Yeovil, at the Octagon.

Spoiler Alert is all about the modern phrase used when referring to a television show or drama or film - and it also has a link to parents spoiling their children.

And he will bring all his thoughts and his comedy bag of jokes together with his new show to the county.

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Thinking about the show, Ed said: “In the show I talk about my childhood and my children. I mean it might not be the happiest show to see (he laughs).

“I think nowadays in terms of the phrase ‘spoiler alert’ it is a modern phrase. I am talking about how spoilt we are.

“An example of that is people talking about a film or a book and saying you should not talk about it in front of them, especially if they have not seen it.

“It really doesn’t matter. Why are we not allowed to talk about it in front of you?

“It seems, collectively, we have agreed this should happen, Buy why? God forbid you should say anything.

“I was watching The Simpson the other day with my children on Channel 4.

“When the adverts came on my son said ‘can we skip the ads?’ I said ‘no, we cannot’, this is live television, you have to wait’.

“Do I spoil my kids? I have to admit I do and I do not try too hard not to.

“I want to give them the things I did not have when I was young.”

The comedy road for Ed Byrne started at university.

He had gone to study horticulture at the University of Strathclyde, where he was made entertainments convener at the Students’ Union in his second year of study.

It was this humble beginning which set him on the long and winding road of comedy.

Reflecting on what it means to him to be a comedian, Ed said: “It is a hard thing to think about, as I have been doing this since I was 21 years old.

“It has been the only real career I have had and I cannot compare it to anything else.

“The fact I have made a really nice career and the jokes have helped to buy my house makes it better.

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for all the food I buy but then I would have more money and won’t pay as much tax - but I need this scattiness.

“Some would disagree but this is what makes me and my comedy, as I daydream, but all of this contributes to my comedy act.”

When asked what does comedy mean to him?

There was a short pause before of reflection before he said: “It is a cliche but I love the fact I can and I am making a living out of it and I am creating.

“Oh God, well I always liked comedy before I started doing it.

“I loved it form an early age and one of the earliest things I remember listening to was a Billy Connolly LP and listening to this gave me a level of satisfaction.

“If there is one thing which has surprised me about comedy is no one ever told me I would have to write so much to sustain my career.

“Nobody warned me this would be the case. I do not feel under pressure for having to write so much but having to is the key to concentration.

“Most of my favourite comedians were from the USA and did the same 40 minutes of their act for years.

“They would even been announced as ‘now welcome on stage doing his famous Five Levels of drinking sketch, it is Larry Miller’.

“This is so much a North- American thing.

“Comedy in terms of doing stand up has exceeded my expectations.

“Every now and again I am surprised by my comedy.

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“It usually happens on stage when I improvise. It can lead to something very funny which I laugh at, the audience laughs at and then I have to tell them why I am laughing. Then they realise how much of the show is scripted.

“When this happens it is wonderful.

“There is an instant connection with the audience when this happens and it is something which you cannot reproduce.

“It just happens in the moment but it is something you want to achieve again.

“Some of the best stuff I have come up with is when I have had a conversation with my wife or kids.

“They say something and I can take this and build on it.”

And we are back at the start thinking about a young Ed Byrne listening to a Bill Connolly LP.

Now since the hey day of LPs when they were bought in their millions they have been replace by CDs but they have made a come back in the last five years.

So why has Ed Bryne not released a comedy record on an vinyl LP?

Before YouTube, listening to a comedy record was the only way apart from seeing your favourite comic live on stage, which was not always possible.

Comedy records sold in their millions as television shows or sketches were available on vinyl.

Replying Ed said: “A friend recently sent me an LP of their act and a USB stick.

“It is appealing as a notion to get one of my DVDs pressed on real heavy vinyl.”

You heard it here first, to quote the character of Sid Hudgens as played by Danny Devito in LA Confidential: “Remember dear readers. You heard it here first.

“Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.”

Information and how to buy tickets for the shows in Somerset:

- The Cheese and Grain in Frome on January 19, £24. You can get more information at ents24.com as the tickets are sold by Ticketmaster.

- The McMillan Theatre on January 23, £24. These can be booked online at mcmillantheatre.com or call the box office on 01278 556677.

- The Octagon in Yeovil on January 30, £25. These can be booked online at octagon-theatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01935 422884.