Stephen Grant

As well as developing the club at the Gardner Street venue, Brighton-based Stephen also has his own career as a writer and stand-up, which has seen him bring several shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and work as a warm-up man for television shows such as QI.

Krater Comedy Club-goers can also enjoy a meal before the show, and stick around after the Saturday night show for Komedia’s new club night Motorcity, which mixes Motown, funk, soul, disco and rock ’n’ roll.

Times and prices vary, for more information visit www.komedia.co.uk.

Is there a comedian you particularly admire, and why?

I think Rich Hall is the best performer I’ve ever seen because I can be laughing at one of his routines nearly an hour after the show has ended. And I doubt there’s a better writer than Milton Jones out there – if you haven’t seen him, he’s incredible.

Is there a TV programme you couldn’t live without?

I try to avoid the TV, but I am strangely enthralled by Dragons’ Den, if only because it teaches people where to put the possessive apostrophe with plural nouns.

Do you remember the first record you bought – what was it, and where did you buy it?

It was a 12in of Peter Gabriel’s Big Time, though I did go halves with my brother on The Firm’s [1987 number one] Star Trekkin’.

Tell us about any guilty pleasures lurking in your CD or film collections – something you know is a bit naff but you can’t help yourself ...

I know it’s rubbish but I just can’t bring myself to delete James Blunt off my iPhone. I know I’m not alone [Back To Bedlam sold 3.2 million copies in the UK alone], so you can stop scoffing now.

Favourite film ... and why?

I’ve seen Highlander more than ten times. That Queen soundtrack is superb. I’m really not helping myself much here, am I?

Favourite album ... and why

Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [by The Beatles]. I started listening to it when I was ten, and it’s still brilliant now I’m in my mid 30s. Not many artists will get that level of longevity.

Favourite book ... and why?

I think the comedic beauty of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy [by Douglas Adams] is magnified by the fact that very few writers since have managed to reach the same level.

Is there a song or individual piece of music you always come back to?

Not really. Though for some reason I have woken up humming Praga Khan’s [rave anthem] Injected With A Poison for the last few weeks. Not sure that has any significance.

Tell me about a live theatre experience that sticks in your memory ...

The amazing Waiting For Godot at the Theatre Royal Brighton a few years back with Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen. Brilliant and yet infuriating. I didn’t know the story and I left genuinely livid that it’s a play about “nothing happening” (twice).

Is there a record, film or live performance that made you want to be a stand-up?

I remember watching people doing stuff on TV and thinking it was rubbish and I could do better.

What qualities does a good compere need to have to host a weekly event like Krater Comedy Club?

Balance, more than anything. Have a big enough ego to control a room full of people, but small enough to make sure the acts get the glory. Also it helps to be funny in every situation – because you will encounter, eventually, every situation.

How does it compare with being a warm-up artist on shows like QI?

There’s less swearing on TV. And you have less time to establish yourself in a TV studio – time is money. You have to hit the ground running.

What’s the worst heckle you’ve ever had to deal with (remembering we are a family paper)?

“You slept with my mate!” I think I said, “I can’t have – you don’t look like you have a mate.” I didn’t want to make eye contact unless he was right though.

Did you ever think the club would become so successful – being voted one of the best in the country, and regularly featuring in top tens of independent comedy clubs?

I did actually, yeah. But for me it felt long overdue after four or five other clubs I’d run previously hadn’t taken off despite a huge amount of effort.

Are you going to Edinburgh this year?

Not this year – I’m getting married at the beginning of September and leaving my girlfriend to do everything while I swan off to “clowntown” is a touch unfair.

Despite not going to Edinburgh, I do actually have a new show this year called Facepalm. I performed it at Brighton Festival and it got five stars in both reviews, which I’ve never had before.

The show is back at the Brighton Comedy Festival on Sunday, October 17, at the Corn Exchange in Church Street, Brighton.