Tell me a bit about the show Toby? "Well it's based on truth and it's a 30-year odyssey from child to man through a much-loved TV programme. It's a personal thing for me about growing up with an absent father right through to having kids of my own."

Why did you decide to base the show around Doctor Who? "I've always loved Doctor Who both last time and this time and when I was going to do an Edinburgh show I thought I'd do it about Doctor Who. It was going to be about how it shouldn't have gone away, but as I previewed it, it became apparent that the stuff that worked best was the stuff that was a bit more personal. So we decided I couldn't mention Doctor Who unless it was talking about my life and it became a very personal thing. Now people who have never seen Doctor Who can enjoy it, it's not just an anorak's dream."

Would you describe yourself as an anorak? "It's one of those things. Doctor Who fans will spend their days discussing who their favourite monster is. But look at things other people like, like football. Football fans have a great memory for facts and like to get together with like-minded friends on a Saturday afternoon whilst wearing a scarf of a particular colour. One of those two things is seen as normal and masculine and the other is seen as geeky."

What makes you laugh? "The Thick of It on BBC4 is brilliant. I've also been busy watching Fawlty Towers, which is still really funny. I like the way Basil rants at inanimate objects. I like the idea of ranting about something you can't do anything about!"

What makes you rant? "I get very annoyed with my mobile phone with apostrophes and plurals and the way it can't spell frivolous or aplenty. I had a very bad experience when texting my friend Raji James from EastEnders and Doctor Who the other day, but we can't print it!"

What's your favourite rubbish joke? Toby's son Louis, who is off school sick, interjects with Why did the monster eat the cat? Because the dog was scared!

"Mmm very good Louis! I think he'll need to get a proper job!"

Who's the funniest person you know - apart from Louis of course? "Well apart from Louis, the funniest person I knowWell I know a lot of comedians! I'd probably say a guy called Jason Cook. His first show at Edinburgh was phenomenal. I think he will be big."

What's been the proudest moment of your career so far? I'm really proud of Malarkey, my comedy club in Manchester. It's just what stand-up comedy is all about, not the chains there are now who charge 15 or 16 quid before you've even had a drink. We're much more reasonable and we've had some great names like Stewart Lee and Jimmy Cricket. We've had comedians who normally charge three times as much, who do it for the love of it. It's our tenth anniversary!"

What would you be doing if you weren't a comedian? "I've always been a frustrated actor really. With comedy, people laugh so they ask you back, but with acting you have to be seen by casting directors and all sorts and it's all about looks and things. I'm sure the cast of Hollyoaks are not the best actors on the planet so there must have been a reason they were booked! There's an element of that in my show. I like dressing up as other people and saying other people's words. It's easy and fun! I was a doctor in Casualty and I really enjoyed it!"

Do you think versatility is the key in your industry then? "Yes, one of the perks of the job is that you have to do lots of different things and I don't like to travel too far with normal stand-up. I like to be able to come back and at least be conscious when my kids get up in the morning. But I've managed to do all sorts in that time frame - links for Angus Deayton, warm-up for loads of TV. You can be flexible and no two days are the same, but there's no job security."

Toby appears in Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf at Forest Arts in New Milton tomorrow night. Tickets cost £11 from 01425 612393 or visit www.forest-arts.co.uk.