HE’S the Tiger-faced comedian who starred alongside Peter Kay in hit TV series Phoenix Nights.

And Mancunian stand-up legend Justin Moorhouse hits the road for his national tour, making a stop at the Lawrence Batley Theatre along the way.

It’s not his first time in Huddersfield, a warm-up gig in readiness for the Edinburgh Festival saw him perform at the town’s Peacock Lounge.

A gag about closing the curtains at the venue which also hosted burlesque didn’t go down too well.

“I’m a rotund chap, unshaven and unkempt who started talking about Greggs.

“I remarked to the six people in the place that if I ran a burlesque club I’d close the curtains – it was a very weird night.”

TV viewers will remember Moorhouse as Young Kenny in the Channel 4 series, his character’s face permanently painted as a Tiger – the result of a botched face-painting job.

But he’s long been a favourite on the North West scene, which boasts a lively comedy circuit.

“I enjoy touring, if people pay to come and see you you’re on a good footing.

“I don’t do one-liners and I don’t do burlesque or hula-hoping, I talk about things which I find funny, observations on things that have happened.

“I once described children as ‘mood-hoovers’ and I could see parents in the audience nodding.”

Justin believes that comedians should be able to laugh at themselves first and foremost, but he doesn’t aim to be offensive.

“I always believe I have to be the butt of the joke, I don’t come out with this big status, I’m not Jimmy Carr, but if you can have a laugh at yourself then people will allow you to laugh at them too.”

He reflects on everyday life subjects such as holidays, relationships and being a dad, whilst throughout he is all about the warm hearted, soulful humour.

The aforementioned Jimmy Carr is a big fan of Moorhouse, saying: “[He’s] easily my favourite comedian.”

Celebrity fans aside, Moorhouse is a talented stand-up comedian, writer and actor, radio presenter and a household name in his native North West.

He has come along way since winning the City Life Comedian of the Year in 2000, he starred in Ken Loach’s film Looking for Eric, hosts his own daily radio show and performed on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

But there’s another stint on TV which he’s hastily revising for – appearing on Celebrity Mastermind.

“I don’t think I’m either a celebrity or a mastermind but they approached me and how could I turn down the chance to sit in that chair?” he said.

And what will be his specialist subject? One of his idols Les Dawson.

“I’m a fan of Les Dawson, he’s one of my heroes so I thought it was best to focus on something I was interested in anyway.

“I’m nervous already, I used to do the warm-up for Mastermind which is one of the easiest gigs in showbiz because you actually had to wind the audience down.

“But I cannot wait to sit in the Mastermind chair.”

Jokes aside, his fee is going to a charity close to his heart, the Children Adventure Farm, which aims to give disadvantaged children a holiday.

One subject he’s hoping to avoid is football – the Manchester United fan is on a year-long sabbatical from all things football.

“I’m missing going to the match but I’ve got so much more times on my hands,” he adds. “If kick-off was 3pm on a Saturday then I’d be there but it’s all over the place.”

He took fellow comedian, Mirfield-based Huddersfield Town fan Alan Cochrane, to Old Trafford for the United versus Leeds match. Moorhouse joked Cochran was the “only Yorkshireman wanting Leeds to lose”.

His career has already spanned more than a decade and there’s bound to be plenty more to come.

See him at the LBT on Sunday, October 16, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £15 or £13 concessions. To book contact the Theatre Box Office on 01484 430528 or book online at www.thelbt.org.