GROWING up in Great Ayton could have been the key factor behind Warren Speed's desire to be a comedian.

The 33-year-old father-of-two is host to a monthly comedy club in Hartlepool, has performed at numerous Teesside venues and appears in Stockton later this month.

Although he now lives in Newcastle, a significant element of his comedy comes from his teenage years in Great Ayton and at Stokesley School.

Much of that period was spent, or perhaps mis-spent, cracking jokes and banter with his mates.

"My comedy act is a daft, hyperactive mix of stuff. I'm influenced by all sorts of things. There's a lot in it about my Great Ayton upbringing," he said, before compering the Cackling Clown Comedy Club, at Hartlepool's Studio venue.

He rode a toddler's scooter on stage as the Banana Splits TV programme theme blasted out - conjuring up memories of summer holidays in the Seventies and Eighties.

"It's humour which is based on observations - not jokes about Scottish, English and Irish men.

"There was a lot of humour at Stokesley School. My friends had their own jokes and slang, which kept changing and developing. They had loads of daft references about life in that area. I suppose I was also influenced by TV comedy programmes like The Fast Show and Reeves and Mortimer.

"When I first wanted to get into stand-up comedy, I had to make a name for myself through the pubs. Through performing in a few Newcastle pubs I got to know other comedians and promoters.

"At first, I called myself Rabbi Joseph Peculiar and I sometimes appeared on stage dressed in a bikini. Things just developed from there."

Mr Speed's father, Ray, is well-known at Great Ayton Conservative Club. Whether "Cons Club" members would see the funny side of Rabbi Joseph Peculiar is unclear.

Regulars at the Low Green club might remember Warren Speed as one of the long-haired headbangers and punks who played pool in the games room.

Former Stokesley School pupils in their thirties might recall how he edited and published his own rock magazine at school, and played in rock bands.

"I've always done a lot of writing, whether it was short stories or articles for rock fanzines. I just keep doing it - but now I write sketches," he said.

l Warren Speed appears at the Traders club in Stockton on Wednesday, February 27, and at the Studio, Hartlepool, on the first Sunday of every month