IT'S no secret that comedy and politics go hand in hand.

Just ask fans of The Thick of It and Yes Prime Minister.

But for the past few years, there's been a new kid on the block, and he's got an insight like no other.

A previous advisor to the Labour Party, Matt Forde has been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

He's now turned to comedy, a job which he says is much less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.

"When I finished worked as an advisor I had reached the end of my wick," he recalls.

"It is a very exhausting job, it's a lot more fun doing comedy, I love it I really do and I love being able to joke about what I want.

"The job was deeply demoralising and towards the end I started to see the cracks appear in the Labour Party and have since watched it fall to pieces.

"Comedy can also be exhausting and hard work but it's worth it.

"I am still very obsessed with politics and I always will be, I watch and red everything and then find the funny parts and get my material from there."

Host of the hit series Unspun which aired last year on Dave, Matt will be bringing his Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show 'It's My Political Party and I'll Cry If I want To' to the Brewhouse in Taunton.

And while he can't confirm if Unspun will return, he said to look out for an announcement later this week, (and apologies for giving me a politicians answer).

Matt adds: "The past year has brought about so much change and everyone is talking about what has happened.

"I'm actually just working on some new material around Donald Trump.

"I do think comedy is a good way to talk about politics with people and get them to see the lighter side of things."

And who are the politicians he considers to be comedy gold?

"Obviously Boris Johnson, and Donald Trump, Paul Nuttell and Nigel Farage - he's given me plenty of things to write about."

All joking aside though, Matt confesses he has a lot of sympathy for MPs and thinks they often have a tough time.

He added: "There are ones like Donald Trump who get a lot of abuse because of the outrageous and despicable things they say.

"But at the end of the day despite what you think of them, a lot of them are just ordinary people who are just trying to do some good for the local area.

"Most of them are well meaning I think and so I feel a bit sorry for them.

"They do one of the most important jobs, they represent the voice of the people and yet they get so much abuse.

"Sadly I don't think certainly in my life-time we'll see a change in that tide, I think people are quite cynical of politicians and I can't see that going away anytime soon."

Matt's London show, The Political Party, has been a sell-out during its monthly residency at Westminster’s St James Theatre.

He has brought Parliament to life with his stand-up and debate with some of the Government’s most notorious figures, including Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Dame Tessa Jowell.

The show is also released as a podcast which has been downloaded over 500,000 times, hit the top spot of the iTunes comedy chart, was picked as the Daily Telegraph’s podcast of the week, picked as the Times podcast of the week and was nominated for the Internet Award in the 2015 Chortle Awards.

And what about venturing back into the world of politics?

"No way, it's not something I would ever consider doing.

"I think the job ruins people, it's a thankless job and so hard, I think I will just stick to comedy.

"I'm really looking forward to coming to Taunton so I hope the people of Somerset will come out and see me."

n Matt Forde will be at the Brewhouse Theatre on February 10 at 8pm.

Tickets cost £15 and are available by calling the box office on 01823 283244 or visit thebrewhouse.net