We all need something to lift the spirits at the beginning of the year – and the prospect of a night of stand-up with one of the top names in the business should buck up even the gloomiest ‘glass half empty’ merchant contemplating dark nights and Christmas bills.

There are two chances to catch floppy-haired fun merchant Ed Bryne in the coming weeks.

The Irish stand-up star and avid hill climber brings his Outside Looking In tour to the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage on Friday, February 5 – and he’ll also be appearing at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge on Wednesday, March 9.

In his new show the Mock The Week regular reflects on everything from life as a father and husband to feminism and transgenderism.

As an observational stand-up, Ed’s is up there with the best.

After two decades honing his craft, he still enjoys life on the road – if only it wasn’t for the travel.

He said: “Apart from the travel involved, which no comic likes, I love it, because you have people responding to something that you have written alone in your office, and the work comes alive in a room of people.

“I like the TV things I do, but nothing can beat a live comedy audience.”

His television credits include appearances on Have I Got News For You, The Graham Norton Show, The One Show, Live At The Apollo and Comic Relief Bake Off 2015.

But a future combining a TV career and his passion for the great outdoors is in sights as he has made the break into presenting documentaries and factual shows.

He continues to be a serious outdoors enthusiast – he recently climbed Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, for the second time.

The past two years have seen appearances on Dangerous Roads and Volcano Live and he co-presented Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure, which aired on BBC Two last year.

Ed also writes a regular column for The Great Outdoor Magazine and will be fitting in as much Munro bagging – climbing Scottish peaks above 3,000ft – as he possible can while on tour, although that’s unlikely to be featuring on his timetable when he’s this far south.

For ticket details, visit www.gordon-craig co.uk or call 01438 363200 for details of the Stevenage show, www.cambridgeartstheatre.com or call 01233 503333 for the Cambridge date.