BRACE yourself for a night of bawdy comedy at the Theatre Royal - from the hands of one of the UK's biggest talents Dave Spikey.

The former medical scientist, best known for playing Jerry 'The Saint' Sinclair in Peter Kay's Channel 4 comedy 'Phoenix Nights', is bringing his Punchlines tour to St Helens this October.

In the show Spikey challenges the school of thought that few punchlines are inherently funny out of context, saying the opposite can be true.

He believes a joke or funny story can still make people laugh when they have been given the punchline beforehand.

A spokesperson for the Theatre Royal said: "In his Punchlines show he presents strong evidence to support this theory and in so doing, he will land blow after blow that hit square on the funny bone, turning the most mundane of life's events into comedy gold.

"Dave will also argue that you don't always need a punchline for a joke to be hilarious and suggests that if you doubt him, you should ask the bloke with the big orange head."

Spikey, who celebrates 30 years in comedy next year, has also been guest presenter on Channel Five's Cats/Dogs/Pets Make You Laugh series which recently topped viewing figures for the channel.

Theatre manager Chantelle Nolan said: "We are delighted to welcome Dave Spikey to St Helens as he is a comedy genius and we know our audience will love him and find him hilarious!"

Punchlines opens at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 27. Tickets, costing £17.50 with concessions at £16.50, are available via sthelenstheatreroyal.com, by calling 756000 or in person at the box office in Corporation Street.