Up-and-coming comedian Seann Walsh talks Jager bombs, haircuts and stand-up with Katherine MacAlister before he hits the O2 and Hammersmith Apollo this summer

Comedians are notoriously nocturnal so I was surprised when Seann Walsh agreed to be interviewed so early. “I’m back off to bed now then,” he told me afterwards and with that I relaxed, all is still well in the world of comedy.

Not that Seann Walsh isn’t keen. He is, very. But unlike other comedians who spend their lives in denial and become plumbers or teachers, before jacking it all in to follow their hearts, this 26-year-old always knew what he wanted to do.

“The reason I mucked about at school, and got kicked out of college, was because I thought, ‘this doesn’t matter because I’m going to be a stand-up comedian anyway’,” he admits. “I was born to perform. It’s what I do whether I’m on stage or not. Live comedy is like being in the playground anyway, isn’t it?”

Like a young Russell Brand, Seann’s observational comedy is as bad boy, and his hair as long. His new tour Seann To Be Wild is even unashamedly written around his nights out in Brighton.

“Seann To Be Wild is based around my unhealthy lifestyle, so the people who will enjoy it are the ones who like Jager bombs, not that anyone likes Jager bombs, no one goes out and says I’ll have the risotto and a Jager bomb do they? But this is for people who know what fun is.”

I voice surprise that he remembers all those nights out at all. “I didn’t but my friends always do,” he replies.

“You always know it’s bad when the phone rings and your mate says ‘don’t you remember what you did last night?’ and you have no idea,” he howls.

Coming alone to The Theatre Chipping Norton to perform his brand of stand-up, Seann usually tours with fellow observational comedian Josh Widdicombe, but at Edinburgh, he’s also on his own.

“It’s really an arts festival which isn’t really what I do. I need the weekend atmosphere in the room for my comedy to work. “But The Fringe does give you a pressure and deadline to write a new show and makes you improve as a comedian” he accedes.

Hard work then? “Yes, comedy is always very intense. Remember that bit in Men In Black when Tommy Lee Jones says to Will Smith ‘if you want to do this properly you won’t see your family or friends anymore and your life will change for ever?’ Well, comedy’s like that. “But as I love it and love performing more than anything, that’s OK. “That’s the joy of stand-up. And I get to pay the bills as well.”

So what was the turning point? “My mum taking me to the comedy club in Brighton. It became my church. I was reborn. It had such a big effect on me and changed my life.”

Seann began visiting weekly, watching all the comedy greats in action. “It got to the point where I used to know what they were going to say next.

“It started to hamper my enjoyment and that’s when I knew it was time to have a go myself. So I didn’t consciously study comedy, but while some people say learn from your mistakes, that’s not what I did, I learned from the best. I never watched amateurs, only hilarious men I really admired like Jack Dee and Lee Evans.”

Learning aside, how did it go? “It was the best night of my whole life,” Seann says instantly. “Stand-up has never been as good as those early days where everything is unknown. Of course the O2 and Apollo are great and I wouldn’t swap them for the world, but that first night was the best thing,” he sighs.

So will he be getting a haircut before touring or is his trademark mullet part of the act now? “I just haven’t had time to have it cut,” he laughs. “I’ve never had it short.” In the last tour he had a bob though? “It wasn’t a bob. I hate that photo. It’s just because I’d been wearing bowler hat all day,” and then realising he’s getting a bit theatrical, howls with laughter, before adding. “I’m going back to bed now.” Rock and roll.

Seann Walsh brings his hit show, Seann To Be Wild, to The Theatre, Chipping Norton, tomorrow night at 7.45pm. Tickets are £13. Call the box office on 01608 642350.