THE Scottish comedy scene is “stronger now than ever before” and one of the country’s top performers says he can’t wait to give Helensburgh stand-up fans a piece of the action.

Raymond Mearns is best known for his part in BBC Scotland’s hit radio and television show Breaking the News, while he has also appeared in firm favourites Limmy’s Show and Rab C Nesbitt and starred in Ken Loach’s film Ae Fond Kiss.

The man with more than 20 years’ experience on the circuit is about to kick off an 18-date tour – his first Scottish tour in a decade – with a gig in his home city of Glasgow, before rocking up to the Victoria Halls in May.

And he is looking forward to his eager fans sharing a laugh at his expense.

He told the Advertiser: “The tour is called Confessions of a Control Freak and it’s about my observations of my own life, I have a habit of creating problems for myself so I’m just reflecting on different situations.

“I’m feeling a combination of nervousness and excitement. I want to do well and I obviously want people to come along, but when you write some new material there is a nervousness, that always happens.

“I think if you don’t feel nervous you’re not giving the people the respect they deserve. Talent always doubts itself.”

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Raymond recently returned from Australia after a successful tour abroad and has also enjoyed regular slots at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.

He said: “I wanted to do what I do there on tour, so, last year, I thought ‘let’s see if I can book some venues’ and most of them were more than happy to have me on board.

“I’m always amazed when they have heard of me, I must be kind of famous.

“The sense of humour in Australia is just the same as over here. If you stand up and tell the comedy truth they will pick up on that and wherever it is in the world, we are all human - if you can communicate what it is about you that makes you tick, people will pick up on it.

“It makes them feel better about themselves if they hear you talking about something they can relate to, they realise they’re not the only one with the problem.

“It makes them forget about their problems for an hour or so.

“The Scottish comedy scene has never been stronger than what it is just now. Billy Connolly is the world heavyweight and Kevin Bridges kind of reawakened it, but there are so many amazing comedians coming through, I don’t know what it is about us.”

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Starting out in a different generation to the digital age poses its own challenges, but Raymond admits he still enjoys his day job.

“In the 70s there were only three channels on air so if you were on the telly you were instantly famous” he said. “Now, more and more people are using streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube, so it’s different. Not everyone watches the telly nowadays.

“There are massive audiences on social media and things are going viral, these guys are finding audiences all over the world.

“I’ve started to find an audience through my show and I get a different type of listener, a wee bit older, so it can’t be all madness. It will be good and it will be funny but not self-indulgent.

“The comedy club gigs are a bit more full on. There will still be a lot of passion but you need to pace yourself and it will be a bit more laid back.”

Ahead of his Helensburgh gig on Friday, May 10, ‘Mearnsy’ as he is known to other comics, is anticipating a lively night.

He added: “My mother-in-law lives up in Arrochar and I know Helensburgh quite well. I played a lot of tremendous gigs in the Clyde Bar and at the submarine base. After one gig there, me and my son actually got a tour of HMS Vengeance, which was awesome.

“It’s going to be a fantastic show and I can’t wait to get out there.”

For ticket information, visit raymondmearns.com or phone the box office on 01436 673275.