When: Sunday, February 26, 7.45pm

Where: Hull Truck Theatre, Ferensway

Tickets: £15

To book: 01482 323638

Visit: www.richardherring.com www.hulltruck.co.uk

Roots: Although born in Pocklington, Richard was brought up in Cheddar, Somerset, where his dad was a headmaster.

Clever: In 2010, he finished second on Celebrity Mastermind with a specialist subject of Rasputin.

Footy: Richard is a supporter of York City Football Club.

Writer: As well as writing and performing his own material, the comic has also written for Al Murray, Little Britain and Russell Howard.

Viral: A YouTube video of Richard dismantling a heckler has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people online.

He's a man not frightened to face up to the big issues. From politics to religion, Richard Herring has taken them all on. But, asks Ian Midgley, can the comedian really tame love?

R ichard Herring has never been one to shy away from controversy. So far he's taken on religion with his rabble-rousing show Christ On A Bike; he's sparked outrage by trying to reclaim the furred top lip in Hitler Moustache; and now, just to be obtuse, he's declared war on love.

When he arrives at Hull Truck, on Sunday, February 26, with his new dissection of the human condition, What Is Love Anyway?, his stated aim, he claims, is to "seek and destroy love. Before love destroys him. Again."

"Er, well, yes. That's a bit of hyperbole on my part," admits the 44-year-old funnyman who's made a career out of pushing the boundaries of what's considered public decency in recent years.

Love is obviously a topic that still enthuses him. When he talks, he gabbles at speed, spitting out ideas, anecdotes and gags while sneaking off on tangents and down comedy cul-de-sacs at every opportunity.

He's a bundle of nervous energy, ask him a question, wind him up and watch him go.

"I called the show What Is Love Anyway? after the Howard Jones song from 1983," he chirps.

"There have been several people who've turned up and been hugely disappointed to discover I am not, in fact, Howard Jones.

"I've tackled a couple of big subjects in recent years, Hitler and religion, so when I was casting around for ideas for this show, I wanted to look at another big theme."

The comedian says he didn't have to look far for inspiration for the show, his 32nd to be staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with his relationship with his long-term girlfriend proving fertile ground for material.

"I've been with my girlfriend for four years now – and I'm probably the most contented I've ever been – but I'd got to the point where I started asking myself: Where do we go from here? What's the next step? I'm in love, but what does that actually mean?"

"Is it a real magical force that binds the universe together and matches us with our one true love? And if so, why does it wait until we're blind drunk in a nightclub to manifest itself?

"Or ... is it just some romantic rose-tinted rubbish that we cling to get us through our dreary lives?"

And the more he thought about it, the more ridiculous love seemed.

"It's bizarre if you think about it," he shrugs.

"We all think we know what love is, but if you sit back and really think about it, it's hard to define.

"Love's a really nebulous thing but I'm interested in these big ideas that people just automatically buy into and believe, whether it's love or religion – or whatever – and maybe try to get them to think about what it is they believe in.

"A lot of the humour is autobiographical.

"It's mainly me making fun of myself – and this show is probably more whimsical than some of the other ones.

"So when I say I'm out to destroy love, I think that's maybe over-egging the pudding a bit."

Herring is no stranger to Hull – and not just down at the old defunct fishing docks.

Born in Pocklington, before moving, aged 2, to the West Country, the comedian still retains an affinity for Yorkshire and remains a staunch supporter of York City.

"I remember when we brought This Morning With Richard Not Judy (Herring's satirical TV show with Stewart Lee) to the old Hull Truck Theatre," he smiles.

"There were a lot of students and a few very confused-looking middle aged people in the audience, who disappeared at half time.

"I think they thought it was actually a show with Richard and Judy – and not me and Stew being silly with potty mouths.

"I've not been to the new Hull Truck yet, so I'm looking forward to coming back."