The double British Comedy Award winner first won the nation's heart when he played cabaret singer Jerry St Clair in Phoenix Nights.

Since then he's gone on to become a jewel in the stand-up comedy crown, touring the country with his heartwarming shows.

Fresh from hitting the road last year for his The Best Medicine tour, Dave, a former medical technician, is back – and he's continuing his mission to get people laughing.

His latest side-splitting comedy prescription has already proved a hit since it kicked off in August, and now it's heading to Durham's Gala theatre next month.

And to make sure he brightens everyone's spirits during the darker months Dave's first book – He Took My Kidney Then Broke My Heart – will be hitting bookshelves next month, followed by The Best Medicine Tour DVD in November.



The book takes a hilarious look at the local and national news and includes 100 per cent genuine news stories, including Fun with Ferrets at the YMCA from the Halifax Courier, Llama Drama Ding Dong at the Lancashire Evening Post and Gnomes Banned from Graveyard from the Weston and Somerset Mercury, with Dave's hysterical commentary throughout.

As a former chief biomedical scientist at The Royal Bolton Hospital, Dave is determined to improve the nation's health by having a good laugh at tales of stunned guinea pigs, wasp allergies, his wife the nun, dancing for dobbers, laxative chocolate, the sun going round the moon and the many ways you can "make your own fun".

And he's positive the cocktail of chemicals and hormones released when we laugh will help to raise spirits around the country as well as burning off those calories.

Dave Spikey rocks Empire.

In fact, Dave said it has been proven that if you laugh for one hour the body will burn 200 calories and as he is keen to point out – "that's a pint of lager".

After co-writing and co-starring in Phoenix Nights, Dave turned his attention to Dead Man Weds and Magnolia, along with a four- series stint as team captain on Channel 4's smash hit show 8 out of 10 Cats.

He also hosted a revival of the classic darts-based TV game show Bullseye.

Aside from his work improving the nation's health with comedy performances and television productions, Dave, a passionate vegetarian, is also an ardent campaigner for animal welfare and in 2007 signed up to the Animals Asia Foundation and travelled to Vietnam and China, where he visited bear bile farms and two bear rescue centres run by the foundation.

Dave also sailed in the 2009 edition Charity Challenge of the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race in June in aid of Challenge Prostate UK.

You can see Dave at the Gala theatre on Friday, October 23, at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £15 and £17.50 and can be bought by phoning 332 4041 or by visiting www.galadurham.co.uk