Comedian and film star Lee Evans is heading to the region ahead of a series of national stand-up performances.

The star will perform at some of the UK's biggest venues, but before his tour begins in the autumn, he is trying out his gags out at smaller venues, including The Courtyard Centre for the Arts in Hereford on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13.

Evans recently finished his acclaimed role in the West End run of The Producers, so it is not surprising his two Hereford dates have already sold out.

The 41-year-old has achieved immense success since his days as an art college student and boxer.

Since his first film role, Funny Bones in 1995, he's gone on to star in a series of hit movies, including There's Something About Mary, co-starring with Cameron Diaz, and The Fifth Element, working with A-listers Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman.

And most recently he's leant his voice to the animation film The Tortoise And The Hare, the follow-up to the blockbuster Chicken Run.

Evans married his childhood sweetheart Heather when he was 17. The couple have a daughter, Mollie, and he says his success is down to his family.

"All families have their ups and downs, but I think I speak for most married men when I say my family means everything to me," he said.

"For me there is nothing like waking up in my own bed, being in my own space and spending time with Heather and Mollie."

Being at home also proves a good source of material for his shows, with most of his comedy being based on observations made from watching and spending time with his daughter.

But, surprisingly considering he has being performing in front of crowds for at least a decade, Evans still gets stage fright.

"Even though I will spend many hours preparing, writing, re-writing, going over and over the material, I still find walking out in front of an audience completely mentally and physically nerve wrenching.

"In fact, I could have been on tour for months, but one minute before stepping out, wham, I just want the ground to open up right there and eat me up.

"I am not a very confident person and it is probably one of the reasons I went into comedy in the first place.

"So many doubts will suddenly enter my pea-sized brain while standing in the wings of a theatre waiting to go on stage.

"By far the major worry and angst is the material I have written. Is it funny? Will I remember any of it?"

Let's hope his nerves hold up at Hereford.