WHEN Jeff Green comes to Blackburn next Saturday night, it might be your last chance to catch one of Britain's top stand-up comedians for some time.

"Once this tour's over I think I'll stop doing stand-up for a couple of years," says the amiable Green.

"I've been doing it non stop for 15 years now and I think I deserve a rest."

Green comes to King George's Hall as part of a nationwide tour, which itself is following on from a stint at the Edinburgh Festival.

"These dates are quite relaxing as I get the chance to come home quite often," he says. "I remember a tour I did with Jo Brand when we were both unknown. We did 65 dates with only two days off. No-one knew who we were, we had no money and had to drive ourselves everywhere. Now that was exhausting."

To many, Jeff Green will be familiar as "that bloke off the quiz show".

Last year he was voted one of the nation's favourite game show panellists by readers of the TV Times.

"I really enjoy the TV stuff," he says. "It's like being back at school. They sit you behind a desk and encourage you be cheeky."

Among the shows Green has appeared on recently are Never Mind the Buzzcocks, They Think It's All Over and I l Love the '80s. Another accolade he picked up was that of one of the country's 50 most eligible bachelors as judged by Company magazine.

It's no surprise therefore to learn that his first book, due out at the beginning of November, is entitled The A to Z of Living Together.

"It's based on all the girls I've ever been out with," he says.

"Over the years a lot of the act has been observations on the funny things that happen in relationships so I decided to write it all down.

"That's one reason I think I'll stop the stand-up for a while because I really would like to write another book after this tour."

With several dates under his belt already, and the tour going well, Green is looking forward to returning to Blackburn.

"I seem to have a particular relationship with audiences in the North West. I'm from Chester, so that helps."

It's the relationship with a live audience that gives Green most enjoyment.

"The audience are really the only people who matter. You get a tremendous buzz when it goes well."

Although much of the material is planned, Green is quite liable to go off on a tangent at any time, usually sparked by audience reaction.

"Stand-up is bit like having a Christmas tree on which you hang baubles. You just hope at the end you're not left with some thin, bald stick in a pot."

Green's style of comedy is based on observational humour. His laid-back, almost gentle manner serves to disguise a razor sharp wit which has seen him nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival.

"As a stand-up, your biggest ally is your audience. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill."

Given Jeff's reputation, there will certainly be a huge amount of goodwill in Blackburn next Saturday night.

Tickets are £10 and are available from the box office on 01254 582582.

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