Noodling around with Jarred Christmas at the Spinnaker Comedy Club

And next week he headlines The Spinnaker Tower Comedy Club along with Sean McLoughlin and Simon Feilder, with WOW247 Best Comedy Award winner James Alderson as compere.

But Jarred’s come a long way from home – he started his life and then his comedy career in New Zealand.

It was in 2000 that he moved to the UK in a bid to pursue his dream of making a real go of it in comedy.

‘I had been doing stand- up in New Zealand for a couple of years, but gigs were few and far between.

‘I then moved to London and was gigging every night of the week, sometimes two or three a night. I had rubbish day jobs just to see me through.

‘The sole reason I was in the UK was to make a living doing stand-up. I was going to bust a gut to do it.’

Fortunately things worked out for Jarred: ‘I stayed because it worked out. I started making a living doing what I love and then I met my wife and fell in love... sorry I’ve just been sick into my hand.’

But he adds: ‘One of the only things Brits do that I could truly do without is pork scratchings, I cannot get on board, especially hairy juicy ones... sorry I’ve just been sick into my hand, again.’

A few years back Jarred became the face of Pot Noodles in a series of TV ads, a role which still comes back to him: ‘It’s weird, the last Pot Noodle advert I did was back in 2010. But I still occasionally get someone shouting “Pot Noodle!” at a gig.

‘Pot Noodle really helped me – because of Pot Noodle I have a house now. I never would have got a deposit together without that savoury snack.

‘The ads were really fun to do, I got to work with some brilliant directors, Taika Waititi (who went on to direct What We Do In The Shadows), Garth Jennings (Son of Rambow, Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy) so it was a really great experience.’

And he’s also a regular on the comedy stage at music festivals: ‘I have done heaps of festivals. Glastonbury, Green Man, Latitude, Reading, Leeds, Sonisphere. I have Bloodstock coming up which is a heavy metal festival.

‘I’m not really into the music but the crowds at festivals like that are amazing.

‘My best Bestival encounter was the year they had an animal theme. Everyone dressed up, it was a sight to behold.

‘Late at night I saw a Bumble bee making out with a crocodile. Mother Nature was out of the house that night.’

Aside from the Spinnaker gig, Jarred’s preparing to take part in The All Star Stand-Up Tour with Gary Delaney, Pete Firman and Sean Hughes through April and May, and filming a slot for Comedy Central’s Comedy Store Presents show.

‘I’m a busy, busy bee but I’m delighted to make time to pop down to Portsmouth!

‘I enjoy performing down this area of the UK. The crowds always seem up for a laugh, people come out and people are not jaded like you sometimes get in London.’

Spinnaker Tower Cafe, Gunwharf Quays

Friday, March 25

spinnakertower.co.uk