FORGET sparks of inspiration and lightbulb moments – Jimmy Carr is too busy for that.

The comedian, known for his edgy one-liners, has performed his routines to more than 1.3million people and has written about 1,000 jokes just for his 11th show, Funny Business.

Jimmy has been on tour since April and by December he will have performed his routine more than 100 times all over the UK. That includes two shows back-to-back in Warrington.

The 8 Out Of 10 Cats presenter said: "For some comedians, creating a show is very much a case of having a flash of inspiration and then building a show around that one idea.

"My process isn’t like that at all. For this tour I will have probably written in the region of 1,000 jokes, but only use about 250.

"I think the trick to this job, if there is one, is to be writing constantly.

"Chuck Close once said: 'Inspiration is for amateurs, I just get to work'. I think that’s a great attitude to have."

Jimmy came to stand-up relatively late at the age of 26 but is now one of the most recognisable faces of the UK comedy circuit.

As well as hosting 14 series of 8 Out Of 10 Cats and starring in 10 O’Clock Live, Jimmy is a regular on most panel shows.

Was it daunting stepping into that showbiz world?

"Not as daunting as getting up at 6am to go to work every day," added Jimmy.

"When I first started out, I just remember having lots of fun to be honest. There was less of an industry back then so it was just about doing stand-up purely for the fun of it, not as any kind of means to an end.

"I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do. I think that’s the reason I’ve worked so hard over the past 10 years or so – the guilt that somehow this isn’t a real job.

"My stand-up and TV work have been different experiences. Making television is very much a collaborative process.

"Being the host is a great gig because there's a whole team of people working to make you look good.

"Live stand-up is very different. You're on your own, so you take full responsibility if things don’t go to plan and that can obviously be stressful.

"You’ve got more freedom in a live show though. With TV, even if it’s late night, you’re ultimately a guest in people’s homes.

"With a live gig, people have paid to be there because they find you funny. That allows you to go further."

For Jimmy, going further can often mean breaking taboos.

"Comedy is all about building up tension and then the release of that pressure," said the British Comedy Award winner.

"That’s what a laugh is – the pressure valve bursting. Talking about taboo topics is a fast way to build tension and the more tension, the more laughs.

"I’d also say that one of my favourite sounds in the world is laughter turning into shock. Laughter is instinctive – you don’t make an intellectual decision about what you laugh at, it’s like a reflex.

"After you’ve laughed, that’s when the moral compass kicks in and you start to wonder: 'Should I be laughing at that?' But by then it’s too late, you already have."

Does Jimmy ever worry about offending people?

"Not really," he added.

"If you believe in free speech, you have to allow people to say things you don’t like – that’s the whole point.

"It all comes down to intent - there's no point being made in my shows, I just want to entertain. I do worry that people sometimes aren’t taking things how I want them to, but it’s about context.

"They’re paying members of a comedy audience, it’s not like I’m just going up to them in the street.

"Having said that, if you're going to approach a difficult topic it has to be a funny enough joke to justify bringing it up. The pay-off has to outweigh the risk."

Despite often being the brunt of his jokes, Jimmy also said that he has never had a big falling out with any of his fellow stars.

"I think that’s probably because my material is so obviously just jokes," he said.

"Verbal constructs designed to get a laugh. It’s different for other comics. If Michael McIntyre or John Bishop – not that they would – said something offensive about someone you’d think they really meant it, whereas with me I think it’s pretty obvious I don’t."

It is a good job too because Jimmy is the first to admit he prefers being famous than infamous.

"It makes the world a really friendly place a lot of the time," he added.

"I think comedy brings a nice kind of fame because you’re well-known but no one puts you on too much of a pedestal.

"It’s not like being an actor or a singer, where people are so in awe of your talent.

Everyone – or nearly everyone – has a sense of humour, so people just tend to come up and tell me jokes.

"What’s not to like about that?"

- Jimmy Carr performs Funny Business at 7pm and 10pm at Parr Hall on September 26. Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.