Interview: Marcus Brigstocke

He said: "Religion is full of s*** and so is atheism, I don't think there is a god but I wish was there was one.

"Religion is unappealing and abhorrent, but atheism is a cold, smug and lonely place to be. The show represents my own struggle - I don't find it easy to get on with humanity.

"I did a thing on Richard Dawkins' website, and it had a lot of hits and was popular on You Tube. At that time I was doggedly atheist. Since then my mood has shifted, I'm much more benign. Atheism is not a thing, it's a non-thing. I'm a tired father of two, I have changed through the understanding of reality.

"The show is about a really big topic, an always talked about subject. As a country we are growing increasingly secular and more often than not all our conflicts around the world are religion based. It's potentially a risky show but that's what makes it interesting and audiences have found it funny.

"People quite often want to stay and debate afterwards which, while I'm on tour, tired and wondering how the hell I'm going get to my next gig, is not always what I want, but you meet some interesting people."

Marcus said he was inspired by comical failure and it is how he, and fellow comedians, use this failure that creates great comedy.

He said: "In 1996 I won the BBC New Comedian Award, and I thought wow, I have made it now. So I called up all the comedy clubs and asked when I was going to be playing. But they weren't quite sure what I wanted or what I was on about so they said come and do five minutes for free and we will call you back in about 10 years.

"So I moved back to Bristol, where I was at university, compered for two years and started actually to become a good comedian.

"That is also when I met a lot of radio and TV producers. I started working on Radio Four and made some great stuff, and some real rubbish.

"But you have to do that. For instance when I was trying out God Collar for the first time the preview shows were terrifying.

"Sometimes I was playing to an embarrassed silence.

"Some things you vow never to do again, and other things you realise do have the potential, you just have to work out how to do it. That is how a good show comes together.

"I find it interesting that people tune in just expecting comedy, but if you watch something that could fail, it often turns out good.

"That is what makes the show I do on Dave, Argumental, so good. We are often asked to defend the indefensible, it makes it more fun to do and more interesting to watch."