American funnyman Reginald D Hunter tells MARION SAUVEBOIS why he loves playing to geeky British audiences

REGINALD D Hunter is no more, say hello to the Man of Kicks.

Since receiving the moniker from blues legend Dr John, he has seen the light.

It is on an epic road trip from North Carolina to New Orleans documenting the 150-year history of American popular song for his BBC2 series Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the South that he crossed paths with the musician.

"Dr John asked me, 'What do you do?' I told him I was a stand-up, and he replied, 'So you're a kicks man. It's a very important job, providing kicks for people.' Is ‘kicks man’ how I'd describe myself? It is now! I am hereby christened A Man of Kicks."

After his latest foray into television, The Man of Kicks is now returning to the live arena with a new show, The Man Who Attempted To Do As Much As Such.

And he is relishing the chance to appear on the British stage once again. "I love stand-up," says the comic, the broad grin on his face confirming as much. "Every time something new works on stage, it's definitely a great high. It's really satisfying."

Known for his distinctive take on subjects such as race and sexuality, he is often brutally honest and has been accused on occasion of courting controversy.

But the comic dismisses the charge with his trademark easy charm. "I mostly work in front of over-privileged white people, and they're easily shocked by things they don't already believe – ‘how dare he espouse that view!’

"I get a sense of contrived outrage from them. It's amazing how many people go out of their way to be offended by what you're saying. There is also a group of people who believe that misrepresenting what you say is a weapon of debate. I hate wilful misconstruction generally, but I'm even less of a fan of it when it's done to me. There are loads of people, too, who are intellectually vain and want to regurgitate what they've just read. It's not evil, but it's not for me.”

And yet he can’t get enough of his ruthless British audience.

"That's why I'm here," asserts the comedian, "Britain is both my real home and my comedy home,” says the comedian who hails originally from Georgia.”British audiences like being surprised comedically. The problem with Americans is that they just want you to get to the funny part.

"British people will come up to you afterwards and say, 'I wasn't sure about the punchline, but the bits before that were extraordinary'. There should be an organisation called the British Anoraks of Comedy. It's very nice to get that response. In my head, the person I'm writing my shows for is British. If you make it as a comedian in Britain, then you can branch out to the colonies!

"Unlike people in the US, Brits won't say, 'You're too deep' or 'You think too much'. I'm not a social outcast in Britain because I use words of more than five letters. That's one of the many things I love about Britain."

Reginald D Hunter will be at the Wyvern Theatre on Thursday, May 14 at 8pm. Tickets are £25, or £23 with concession. To book call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.