Ardal O’Hanlon, who you may know as Dougal from Father Ted, is making a return to stand up comedy after three years away.

Away only in the sense that he has not been on tour, O’Hanlon says comedy is very much a part of his everyday life, and he is always trying to write bits and pieces here and there.

The tour, coming to Richmond Theatre this month, is the culmination of the past three years, which is the amount of time O’Hanlon takes to create a full show.

The show is about where he is in his life, with a subtext of answering the question why he still does comedy.

Although it is not totally auto-biographical, he discusses his childhood, religion and beliefs which feed into his catholic upbringing.

O’Hanlon says: “I continue to do comedy because we lose faith in politics. It is a great platform for airing petty frustrations.”

After a trial run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, the Olympics of comedy as he sees it, the show is complete and he is eager to bring it to as many people as possible.

The show is not aimed at any particular audience, and O’Hanlon is relaxed as to who comes to see it.

As a result of his television career there can be a disparity between people’s opinions of him off the television, and their knowledge of his stand-up.

However, he remains unfazed by this and says: “Once I have them in the door that ceases to be a problem. I have always tried to do whatever I wanted to do and hope for the best.”

This tour is across the UK, but comedy has allowed O’Hanlon to travel across the world.

He says the comedy scenes in countries such as China, Russia and across Eastern Europe are growing, and stand-up is a “great passport to see the world”.

He has appeared in China many times, and enjoys the opportunity to travel and learn more about a place that touring abroad provides.

Back in Richmond, when asked to convince people to come to the show, O’Halon says he is not a very good sales man, but says: “I would like it very much if you would join me.”

That seems as good a sales pitch as any.

Ardal O’Hanlon; the Richmond Theatre, the Green, Richmond; November 21, 8pm; Tickets £29.90; To book tickets visit atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre or call 020 8332 4500.