Stephen takes to the stage

But the lofty comic is hoping to change that with his first ever stand-up tour Stephen Merchant Live: Hello Ladies... which is on its way to Bradford.

The Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe award winning co-creator of the BBC’s The Office and Extras began his career as a stand up comedian, and in 2001 shared a stand-up bill with Gervais, Jimmy Carr and Robin Ince at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Bristolian Merchant, along with Gervais and Karl Pilkington, features in the Guinness Book Of World Records for having the most downloaded internet show of all time, clocking 280m downloads. Their conversations have subsequently been animated for HBO cartoon series The Ricky Gervais Show.

Merchant also features in Sky One’s An Idiot Abroad.

Hello Ladies... is on at St George’s Hall on November 24. Tickets are £25, available by calling 01274 432000 or visiting www.bradford-theatres.co.uk. Booking fees apply.