Mock the Week's Andy Parsons brings stand-up show to Croydon (From Croydon Guardian)

Mock the Week's Andy Parsons brings Gruntled tour to Fairfield Halls, Croydon

11:51am Thursday 19th May 2011 in Comedy By Melanie Attlesey

Grumbling funnyman and BBC Two’s Mock the Week star, Andy Parsons, returns to Croydon for another round of hilarious politically inspired observations.

After his sell-out 2009 Citizens! tour, Parsons is back on the road with his new aptly named Gruntled show.

“The tour centres on David Cameron contacting the Office for National Statistics and asking them to create a happiness index. I thought it was a little odd to ask how happy Britain was during the recession and spending cuts and decided to poke fun at that,” he explains.

So what's the reason for the tour's name?

“The term ‘Gruntled’ means different things to different people," says Parsons. "Some people think it means the opposite of disgruntled and others think it means just a little bit disgruntled. So it’s a catch all term and that reflects the content of my tour."

There has been a lot of talk that this may be Parsons last tour, but he says this is not necessarily be true.

“If you tour for a while you begin to get fed up of Ginster’s buffet bars and feel like never touring again,” he laughs.

“However, this tour has been thoroughly enjoyable and I still feel energised,” he adds, despite describing himself as a part-time tourer.

Mock the Week host Dara O’Briain has also performed in Croydon and Parsons says he is hoping to get a similar response.

“Dara had his coat stolen off the stage by an over excited fan. So he won’t be returning – least not with that coat,” laughs Parsons.

“But I love Croydon and I’m really looking forward to returning.”

Parsons says his real critics are the fans who support him.

“Comments on social networking sites have been very complementary. You have to put your trust in punter power,” he says.

Andy Parsons: Gruntled, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, May 22, 8pm, £15, 020 8688 9291, fairfield.co.uk