Mock the Week star Ed Byrne recently chalked up 20 years as a comic. His latest show of observational comedy, Outside, Looking In, covers a wide range of subjects – from a recent gastric illness to the success of Ukip, as well as his life as a father and husband.

What's On caught up with the 43-year-old to find out more...

I didn’t make a conscious effort to write a more personal show, but that was what was coming out...

People come to see me for a laugh and I would like to think they go away thinking the show is heartwarming. A lot of comics talk about the same stuff, but what makes it mine is that what I’m saying is what I genuinely think – and I try to make it as funny as I can.

I’m aware that my two sons haven’t given me permission to talk about them...

And there will come a point when I can’t. John Bishop has stopped talking about his sons on stage because people know who they are. I talk about them in pretty abstract terms, because what I’m discussing is the act of parenting.

My comedy reflected my life when I was single...

And most of it was harmless ‘the difference between men and women’ kind of thing. But some of the stuff about an ex-girlfriend I can see was a bit angry and I wouldn’t do it now.

My reactions to things as a man in my 40s is quite different to when I was in my 20s...

I don’t how much of that is simply getting older, or that times have changed, or mixing with a broader group of people. Interestingly I find Twitter can expand your horizons. I’ve started following all sorts of people on it.

I love touring, apart from the travel, which no comic likes...

On tour you have people responding to something that you have written alone in your office and the work comes alive in a room of people. I like the television things I do, but nothing can beat a live comedy audience.

I like hill walking and I’ve bagged a few Munros (peaks above 3,000ft – in fact he’s done 75)...

I also collect “county tops” – the highest point in the county. I’ve downloaded an app for them and have started making a list of those I’ve done. It’s pretty geeky.

I’m writing a sitcom set in an outdoors shop...

My wife Claire and I have already introduced our sons to the outdoors. So far they love camping and canoeing. As they’re growing up it’s hard to be apart from them when I’m on tour, and I try not to be away for more than a couple of days at a time, but one of the great things about my job is that it means I can spend a lot of time with them when I’m home.

SHOW DETAILS

Ed Byrne: Outside Looking In is at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury on Friday, January 22. Tickets £19. Go to www.thegulbenkian.co.uk or call 01227 769075.

Ed will also be at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Sunday, March 6, at 8pm. Tickets £19. Go to www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or call 01892 530613.

Finally, he’s at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford on Tuesday, April 19. Tickets £20. Go to www.orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.