After a three year hiatus, Doug Stanhope is coming back to Blighty.
His month-long tour this autumn will visit Leeds' O2 Acdemy on October 5 — and pub landlords, if you want Doug propping up your bar, you best make a couple of changes.
When asked if he was excited to check out some of the city's bars and pubs, he confessed that he 'made do'.
"If an American bar is a hotel, a British pub is a tent," he said. "If I find a good bar I go back to it.
"I don't like the lack of stools. I like tiny straws and a lot of ice in my drink. These things are really lacking... I bring my own straws."
Pub culture aside, Doug's also awaiting his UK return... to get 'the hell away from this stupid book'.
The caustic comic is currently writing a book about his life with his mother, a lengthy project exploring themes of comedy, alcoholism and suicide, which saw him reconnecting with family members to check details and make sure everything was right.
"It's been a drunkard's life in a social circle of drunkards," he said. "I want it to be as accurate as possible."
With around a week to go until the fruits of his labour are sent off to his publisher, Doug's postponing thoughts of the tour until he gets his life back.
"I've forgotten how to do comedy," he said.
But anyone who has seen Doug in action knows he's rarely short of something to say.
Lauded by fellow comedians including Louis C.K, Sarah Silverman, Ricky Gervais and the late Robin Williams, he began his career in Las Vegas and built a cult status.
Recently seen as the 'Voice of America' on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe, Doug is known for his highly opinionated, intelligent and shocking stand-up.
His brutal honesty has seen him compare his sets to going to war: "I go onstage, it's like I'm leading you into battle. You're not all going to be here at the end."
But British audiences may be more resilient than their US counterparts.
"English audiences are certainly more critical," he said. "If they like you you feel better. I don't get as much shock in as many corners, and if I do, it's usually from different things."
Doug's October tour will begin in Glasgow, visiting Newcastle, Leeds, Bath, London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester before ending in Ireland.
He's hitting the road in his favourite part of the UK — Scotland — but is not as enthusiastic about heading south to the English capital.
"I loathe London," he said. "It's just too crowded. It's worse than New York, at least in New York they have proper condiments."
But at least he can rely on the British weather.
"I hope it's awful," he said." Even when it's nice over there it's still not, really."
And he's certainly au fait with the most popular UK pastime.
He said: "I'm only really happy when I'm complaining."
