Reginald D Hunter’s booming American voice (and laugh) will be familiar from TV shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and frequently from Have I Got News For You.

Regularly controversial, he isn’t afraid to face challenging issues head-on, including race and sexuality, while recently he also appeared in the BBC2 series Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South, documenting his epic road trip from North Carolina to New Orleans through 150 years of American popular song.

Here, he talks about his new show and life in the UK as he prepares for dates in the county.

You’ve been in the UK for almost 20 years now – how much of this country has rubbed off on you?

I haven’t started drinking more tea and I don’t talk about the weather. I don’t moan about not having sunshine and then complain about it when I get it, like you all do.

How do you feel about the news back home? Do you worry about it?

I don’t even want to talk about home. My family don’t either. After a few days of screaming, moaning and wailing they were OK – but what else can you do? America is Britain junior. We have more guns and money. But you came first.

Do you draw on that for your show?

I use the things that are on my mind the most. The Trump effect – there’s no ignoring that at the moment. The things that are happening in the world now, they are affecting our lives. We are really starting to feel it now. When I am doing my show, I am sitting at my table, so I can talk about what I want at my table.

You sound kind of cuddly when you’re on TV, but maybe you’re not?

I don’t think anyone has ever described me as that before.

What have you learnt while living in this country?

It’s taught me not to take myself too seriously.

DETAILS

Reginald D Hunter’s show Some People v Reginald D Hunter has been to Folkestone, Dartford and Tunbridge Wells and this weekend it makes its last Kent stop at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, on Sunday, June 11. To book, call 01227 787787 or go to marlowetheatre.com