Gayle Ritchie

He’s the comedian with poodle hair and a befuddled look who stars in murdermystery series Jonathan Creek. Essexborn Alan Davies is also a panellist on quiz show QI and appears in Channel 4’s social worker sitcom Damned.

However, when The Courier catches up with the 51-year-old stand-up, he’s in the midst of looking after his three children.

“I’ve got my work cut out with these guys,” he laughs. “The youngest is just over a year old and when you’ve got three small kids, you do everything you can to keep them happy and healthy.

“They form a big part of my stand-up shows so I guess they’re paying their way.”

Alan performed his first stand-up gig five months after leaving university in 1988, and just three years later was named best young comic by Time Out.

His partner is the children’s author Katie Davies. The couple met backstage at QI and married in 2007 with his friend Bill Bailey as best man.

Having travelled up and down the country with his shows, Alan says he has a soft spot for Scotland – and he loves Scottish audiences.

“I’ve been absolutely everywhere and I’ve been doing the Edinburgh Fringe for at least 30 years,” he says.

“Scottish audiences are great – they all face the right way usually, so that’s good.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Scotland over the years and I pretty much know everywhere.

“Sadly, I won’t have too much time to enjoy the sights of Fife as I’ll be playing the show and then heading home, but hopefully another time.”

The Carnegie Hall show will include a