TV comic Phil Wang is bringing his tour to Warrington's Parr Hall later this month.

The 33-year-old comedian is familiar to many, boasting appearances on Live at the ApolloTaskmasterQIHave I Got News For You, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and many more.

Now, he's bringing his 'Wang in There, Baby!' tour to Warrington's historic performance venue.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian ahead of his tour date - which is Friday, September 22 - the stand-up explained why Parr Hall is the 'ideal' venue for a gig.

Warrington Guardian: Wang has his own Netflix special: 'Philly Philly Wang Wang'Wang has his own Netflix special: 'Philly Philly Wang Wang' (Image: Netflix)

Having previously performed at the Apollo, and other venues such as the London Palladium, you would be forgiven for expecting Parr Hall to seem like small fry to the TV regular.

That's not the case, though - Wang said: "I think that's pretty big for stand-up; I think it's a 1,000-seater.

"That's sort of the midpoint of the rooms I've been playing. To be honest, you don't really notice the size of a crowd past 1,000.

"A crowd just feels like a behemoth."

He added that larger audiences 'just becomes a mass of people' and that performing to around 1,000 people is 'ideal.'

Wang said: "1,000 to 2,000 still feels intimate, and like you're in a room with actual individuals - so Parr Hall is a pretty ideal size."

When asked what audiences can expect from his one-man show versus when he appears on panel shows, the difference is simple, he says.

With a larger responsibility to host, Wang's comedy is more focused on his personal life, and has gradually shifted as he has grown more mature.

He said: "As always, I talk about being mixed-race, and being half-Asian and seeing British life through an Asian lens.

"But then also, now, starting to see life through a British lens because I'm more now - at least in terms of years - recently, British than I am Asian."

He says this means the show marks a 'flip' in his personal perspective.

Warrington Guardian: Having been a familiar face on panel shows for a number of years, Wang is bringing his solo show to Parr Hall later this monthHaving been a familiar face on panel shows for a number of years, Wang is bringing his solo show to Parr Hall later this month (Image: Phil Wang)

Talking more generally about the venues he performs at, Wang says that despite acts such as the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Carr taking to Parr Hall's stage, he doesn't like to think too much about who has come before him.

He explained: "I try not to think about it too much.

"I think I'm too much of a scientist; just because someone was there before doesn't mean anything now - their particles aren't still there, y'know?

"I wish I was more romantic about these things, and I think it frustrates people when I'm not more romantic about things."

The conversation turns to social media, and the prevalence of media platforms in helping younger comics to break through into the mainstream.

Wang says he was part of the last generation to benefit fully from appearing on television, whereas youngsters now have access to platforms such as TikTok, which allows them to upload their content at any time of day in the hopes of being 'discovered.'

He said: "I think there's an upside and a downside: the new generation benefits from the boom in platforms, and they can put themselves out there whenever they want and there are no gatekeepers.

"The downside is that there's never been more competition - ever - in comedy than there is now, because everyone who wants to can jump onboard and put up their stand, and in a second become a part of the comedy landscape."

It is difficult to remember that Phil Wang is in his early 30s.

He has been a familiar face on panel shows for a number of years, and has his own Netflix comedy special to boot.

Despite this, he's still a normal man, he says - adding: "Most people when they meet me expect me to be funny, but people who know me now know not to expect that."x

Warrington Guardian: Phil Wang will perform in Warrington on September 22Phil Wang will perform in Warrington on September 22 (Image: Phil Wang)

Wang says he's more comfortable telling jokes and stories to audiences of hundreds, or thousands, than to his friends over a pint in the pub.

He added: "I think of myself as someone who's good at stand-up, I was never the class clown.

"I find it more nerve-wracking to try and be funny in a pub in front of five friends than on stage in front of 500 strangers. 

"I can feel myself - if I've got a joke to tell to five friends at the table - I can feel my heart just pounding with nerves, and then I'll say it and it'll take a few seconds for the adrenaline to burn off."

He concludes: "I don't feel that getting on stage in front of 1,000 people."

The final topic of discussion is advice for younger comedians hoping to break onto the scene.

Wang says the biggest piece of advice he can give to performers is to tell jokes that they find funny, and not to perform routines just because they think it will go down well.

He adds that performers should do their best not to 'go crazy,' and they shouldn't become involved in social media debacles or debates, for their own peace of mind.

Phil Wang brings his 'Wang in There, Baby!' tour to Parr Hall on Friday, September 22 - for tickets, visit https://culturewarrington.org/whats-on/phil-wang-wang-in-there-baby/

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Phil Wang is a regular on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, but who is the host?

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