Comedian David Baddiel was inspired to write his latest Olivier-nominated show by his mother's funeral.

He said hearing people continually saying how wonderful his mother was felt like punching a hole in his memory of her, because it took away her character and individuality. Family is very important to the comedian so he says his way of coping was to write about it, so My Family: Not The Sitcom was created.

David says that he is obsessed with identity and people being true to themselves. "We should stay as truthful to that person whether they are gone or seriously ill. We should tell the truth but with love. This show covers my mum's affair with a golf memorabilia salesman and my dad's swearing, it is the opposite of not washing dirty linen in public. It is a celebration of my mother's life, an anti-funeral speech,'' said David, who after two successful runs in the West End is touring the UK, including Swindon.

David also touches on the fact his mother was bundled out of Germany in 1939 when she was five-months-old to escape the Nazi regime and says this show is a celebration of a life that nearly didn't happen.

"I have footage of my mother talking about her erotic adventures, and how she was 'out there' in a mad stuff, 1970s sort of way, nothing outrageous, she never climbed Everest but she enjoyed life,'' he said.

David came to fame writing and appearing in The Mary Whitehouse Experience with Rob Newman, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, first on BBC Radio 1 and then on BBC 2 television.

He is a huge football fan and became a household name alongside his close pal Frank Skinner when they created the Fantasy Football League. Baddiel and Skinner also became known for live specials during the 1998 World Cup, the 2004 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. They also topped the UK singles chart twice with the football anthem Three Lions co-written and performed with The Lightning Seeds.

The duo are now back on TV together with a commercial about pensions.

"I grew up with funny adverts and Frank and I thought we would do a service as many over 50s have no idea what the state of their pensions are. But if you ring the Government they can sort it out,'' said David, who says that he and Frank might also do a podcast for this year's World Cup.

"We are still close friends, we live in the same street and I'm seeing him later,'' said David.

The comedian was the subject of Who Do You Think You Are? tracing his mother's background and subsequent escape. He says it helped hugely with his current show as he uses clips from the TV programme, including his mother talking about his grandfather's sex life.

His grandfather was interned on the Isle of Man when the family fled to Britain and David wrote a book about his time there.

"They should make a film of it,'' he said "It is so interesting, a weird part of British history. There were six Nobel prize winners interned.''

It was the comedian's son Ezra who inspired him to write for children. When he was eight-years-old Ezra asked why Harry Potter didn't run away from his adopted parents.

So, David wrote Parents Agency and it was a huge hit. Now the comedian is writing and producing a feature film of the book with Fox 2000 Pictures.

His father sadly has Dementia so last year David filmed a documentary called Trouble with Dad and part of this is included in the new show.

"Dementia is a hot topic right now and I am glad that the fact I wanted to talk about it through my shows has helped raise awareness of alzheimers,'' said David, "A lot of people from the charity have come along to the shows.''

"My brother also makes an appearance and my son, and my gay cat, he is more gender fluid as he became gay as he got older,'' said David.

David has appeared in such shows as Skins and Little Britain, but turned down Strictly Come Dancing and says he only agreed to do What Not To Wear with Trinny and Susannah because he needed some new clothes.

My Family: Not the Sitcom will be at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre at 7.30pm from April 20 to 22. Tickets are £29. For more details visit www.davidbaddiel.com or swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison