Razor-sharp comedian Tim Vine performs at The Beck Theatre later this month. JERRY LYONS catches up with him to find out more about how a boring office job in Croydon turned out to be a life-changing experience

THE phrase quick-witted could well have been created to describe Tim Vine's brand of comedy; he held the world record for the most jokes told during an hour's performance - 499 - before 'some American bloke' took the accolade from him.

Chatting with Tim on the phone, it's easy to understand how he managed such a feat. During our interview, he was cracking jokes so rapidly that my 100 words per minute shorthand was left lagging way, way behind.

His impressive CV includes starring in the BBC One sit-com Not Going Out, winning the Perrier Best Newcomer prize at the Edinburgh Festival and presenting TV game shows and several successful stand-up tours.

His brother, Jeremy, is the face of Panorama and a popular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Tim's Punslinger show speeds into Hayes on September 10, having sold out at venues across England.

"I started writing the show in November last year and it is filled with gags and one-liners," he says.

"I have never played at the Beck Theatre before and I can't recall ever having been to Hayes, so it'll be an experience."

A crackly telephone line and a question about him being mistaken for his brother set him off. He responds to yet more hiss, crackle and buzz by saying: "This is like being heckled by a telephone. My brother and I don't look alike but I can do a great impression of him."

He then proceeds to do just that: "Good morning, I'm Jeremy Vine and in today's show we will be investigating whether shopping trolleys can give you cancer."

It's the first of many laugh-out-loud moments during our chat.

Tim explains why he took to the comedy stage.

"Years ago I worked in an office in Croydon, which is probably reason enough to find sanctuary in comedy. The job was really boring but I made friends with

a really funny security guard who worked there. He and I saw an advert in the paper promoting a comedy café. It had an open mic night and we both gave it a go and it started from there.

"I thought he had a great talent but he packed it in after a few weeks and now lives in Newfoundland, in Canada.

"If I went back to being 18 years old again and thought to myself: 'You'll end up being a comedian', I think I would be happy with that, although I still fancy being a rock star[2026] but, then again, don't we all?"

Tim's constant stream of one-liners helps him deal with hecklers.

"I'm far too busy thinking of the next gag to be worried about hecklers. I'm not the sort of comedian who makes an idiot out of someone in the audience because most of the time I'm making a fool of myself," he says.

Having experienced how funny Tim is while we chatted, the first thing I did after finishing the interview was to call the Beck Theatre and order a pair of tickets to see his show. You could do a lot worse than follow my lead. [25cf] Punslinger starts at 7.30pm at The Beck, in Grange Road, Hayes on Wednesday, September 10.

Tickets are £15. Phone the box office on 020 8561 8371 or call in (Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm on non-performance days, 10am to 8pm on performance days; Sundays, one hour before the performance).