Comedian Andrew Bird still 'loves' small rooms despite arena shows

Andrew Bird is currently on his own tour after supporting comics such as Rhod Gilbert and Russell Howard

A comedian who has played to sold-out arenas supporting Michael McIntyre said he will always "love" performing to a few dozen in small venues.

Andrew Bird, from Northamptonshire, has also supported Russell Howard and was one of seven comedians to perform at Banksy's Dismaland theme park.

The comic is currently on his own theatre tour, including Northampton's recently reopened Royal Theatre.

He said there was "no bigger thrill" than getting a laugh.

When supporting McIntyre he performed for 15,000 at the Nottingham Arena and then played to just 36 a room in the Admiral Rodney pub in the same city two days later.

He quipped that there were "more people queuing for ice cream" at the arena show, than were in total at the pub gig.

He also performed with McIntyre at a festival in Norway, travelling on a private plane put on by the organisers.

"I've flown on private jet to a gig and back in a day and the next day I'm doing a social club in Darlington," he said.

• BBC Sounds: Comedian Andrew Bird flew with Michael McIntyre

Bird, from Towcester, has also supported Rob Brydon and Rhod Gilbert as well as written for Channel Four's 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

He said he had booked his current tour himself, which he described as "proper punk, do-it-yourself".

"I would keep in gigs that most people would take out because I absolutely love the bleak contrast [between venues]," he said.

Andrew Bird said he had also supported Michael McIntyre at a festival in Norway

Bird is due to play the Royal Theatre in Northampton next week after it reopened last month.

It closed due to the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) and some parts of complex it shares with the Derngate theatre are still closed off.