Preston-born Dan Nightingale was at Newcastle University studying for a politics degree when the possibility of a career in comedy caught him by surprise.

After working at The Hyena Comedy Café as a sound man for six months, he got on stage one night after deciding it looked like a lot more fun than the books he’d had his head in for the past year.

“I didn’t grow up wanting to do this — far from it. I didn’t think I’d be hard-working enough for the commitment it requires,” said Dan, who moved to Manchester when he turned professional in 2003 “We were in the club one night and I just thought ‘I’ve got to give this a go’ and as soon as I’d tried I knew it was what I wanted to do.

"Even if I couldn’t make any money from it I’d still be doing it,” said Dan, who performed on the 2008 You Must Be Joking comedy festival’s opening night at King George’s Hall.

“If I have a week off I start to get fidgety, I miss it.

"But it makes it a lot harder when you have a bad gig, because you care so much about it — and believe me, everyone has a bad gig from time to time.

"It’s like a bad day in the office — we all have them.”

Dan is a regular compere at Manchester’s Frog and Bucket comedy club, where he started as a barman, and now he books the acts he comperes at weekends.

He performed at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival to great acclaim just four years after turning professional, including a double header with award winning comedienne Josie Long.

But Dan insists he couldn’t be happier than when he’s on stage at home in Lancashire.

“I love doing comedy in Blackburn and the North West.

"If you want to be a superstar it’s perhaps not the best place to be but I’m doing it because I love it.”

He added: “It’s great because I get to visit my nana and do comedy.

“I think we’ll have a good time tonight. There’ll be a bit of observational humour, a bit of northern stuff and some silliness.”

Also on the bill is Andy White, an opener at the 2007 debut Blackburn comedy festival; Toby Hadoke, best known for running Manchester’s XS Malarkey comedy club night, and former circus performer Martin Bigpig-Mor, a regular at the venue, who will headline.

* George’s Comedy Club, Windsor Suite, King George’s Hall, Friday, July 2, 8pm. Tickets £9 in advance – booking is advised.