Jimmy Carr’s current UK tour, which rolls into Bradford next week, goes under the heading ‘Rapier Wit’.

Firing off quickfire gags is a trademark feature of the comic’s act but, judging by the furore over his recent quips about soldier amputees, his ‘rapier wit’ isn’t to everyone’s taste.

Carr’s material is occasionally likely to offend. If you’re easily offended, you’re probably best avoiding his live act, unless you’re particularly good at heckling.

Widely regarded as one of the most original stars on television, radio and the stage, Jimmy has enjoyed a successful year, and his sell-out 200-date tour, Joke Technician, is still going strong.

The Rapier Wit tour is said to feature 120 minutes of fresh, uncensored material.

With his machine gun-fast delivery, Jimmy walks a fine line with outrageous gags, carried off by crediting his audience with being in on the joke.

Despite hosting shows such as Channel 4’s 8 Out Of 10 Cats, he likes nothing more than getting back on the road with a stand-up tour. “If I’m doing a gig, I drive there, mooch about, have a coffee, bite to eat and wherever I go in the country I meet people,” he says.

“People come up, say hello, have a chat. If you’re on TV, people think you’re approachable. I’m not a movie star or a singer or someone who’s impossibly talented, I’m just a bloke with some jokes. It’s nice, it makes the world friendly.

“The nicest thing is when you meet young guys and girls coming to comedy for the first time. What’s slightly strange is that they’re clearly expecting me to insult them. It’s a pleasant surprise to find I’m polite.”

He makes no bones about the cutting-edge nature of much of his material.

“I suppose the best you could say about comics is that we’re an embodiment of the freedom of speech. As soon as you stop doing jokes about one thing, that’s the thin end of the wedge. I’m an equal-opportunity offender.”

His love of jokes – he’s written a book about them – makes him perhaps slightly old-fashioned in comparison with observational comics. Why does Jimmy love jokes so much?

“I’m obsessed by the wordplay,” he says. “Eddie Izzard was very big when I was at college. I remember seeing him at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. What he was doing was essentially the same thing: a man on a stage telling jokes. He’s dressing them up as whimsy, but they’re just one-liners with a surreal element.”

Born in 1972 in Slough, the son of Irish parents, Jimmy went on to study political science at Cambridge, before moving into advertising.

He landed a job in the marketing department of Shell Oil, but admits he was bored and when the company offered him voluntary redundancy, he took it and pursued a career in comedy.

Jimmy Carr is at St George’s Hall on Friday, November 13. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.