Over the past couple of years, Rob Brydon has been busier than a hive-full of worker bees who have overdosed on honey. Brace yourselves; here comes the dizzying list of what he's been up to of late.

The Welsh actor, writer and comedian, has starred in another series of his hit BBC2 comedy, The Keith Barret Show, as well as providing the hilarious narration to a run of spoof DVD voiceovers in ITV1's Director's Commentary.

He has also branched out into films, playing the title role in the BBC's absorbing biopic of the legendary critic in Kenneth Tynan: In Praise of Hardcore and Inspector Awdry in the recent ITV1 series of Marple.

In addition, Brydon has starred in two movies: a children's fantasy entitled MirrorMask; and A Cock and Bull Story, Michael Winterbottom's eagerly-anticipated movie about Tristram Shandy.

Oh yes, and as if that wasn't already eye-wateringly busy enough, the performer has just come back from ten weeks spent Down Under filming Super Nova, a new BBC sitcom from the team behind Men Behaving Badly and Coupling. Truly, this man has come a long way since he used to front the Home Shopping Channel and provide the voice of Tango!

Recently, Brydon, 40, has barely had time to draw breath. But he shows no sign of slowing down now. He is currently full of beans as he is about to return to his first love: live comedy.

Next week he brings The Keith Barret Show Live to Wycombe Swan. It showcases the hugely popular character who was first propelled to TV stardom by Marion and Geoff, his achingly funny and often deeply poignant BBC Two's series of monologues about his messy divorce. It was delivered to a single camera from behind the wheel of his taxi.

Now Keith has spread his wings and capitalised on his new-found fame to become a marriage-guidance counsellor. In his live show, he will be asking audiences that age-old question: what makes for a successful relationship?

Part-counselling session, part-stand-up, the act features Barret's near-legendary lecture, Making Divorce Work. He will also be calling couples on stage and quizzing them about their relationship.

Relaxing on a rare day off, Brydon explains that the show plays on Keith's "deliberately weak jokes". He says that during a divorce, you have to be like the man in the toll-booth: you must accept change.' He also admits that there will be tears before the night is out but don't rush up on stage to comfort me, it'll be alright.' With such a schtick, it is no surprise that Barret is one of the best-loved characters on the comedy circuit. But don't just take my word for it. He has picked up gongs at the British Comedy Awards and the Royal Television Society.

Brydon can scarcely contain his excitement about treading the boards once again. "When a live show goes well, you just can't beat it you get a feeling that all is well with the world," beams the father of three.

"When the theatre is full of people who have come just to see you, you feel like a cross between Eddie Murphy and Elvis, commanding, fulfilled and in control of everything. All your worries disappear."

He is equally enthusiastic about the business of touring.

"Having just been away in Australia for ten weeks, going away for three nights at a time seems like a doddle. When you drive into each new town, you feel like a cowboy who rides in, does his thing and then rides out again!"

But just why has the character of Keith struck such a chord with audiences?

"I think The Keith Barret Show works on several levels," reflects Brydon, who was born and bred in Port Talbot, also the hometown of Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. For a start, Keith is a very likable character. I get a lot of warmth and sympathy from people I bump into on the street. They come up to me and say aaah'. That can be a bit irksome I feel like replying, It's OK, I'm not unwell'."

But Brydon carries on, The Keith Barret Show "is also very accessible. I've done shows such as Marion and Geoff, Human Remains and Directors' Commentary where you really had to concentrate. "With this, I wanted to do something with bright lights which you could get into really easily and enjoy while doing the ironing. You don't need a PhD to get The Keith Barret Show."

There are, however, also hidden depths in the act.

"Keith seems to be a nice easy-going character," Brydon continues, "but at the same time I hope there's a sharpness there. I see Keith as a wolf in sheep's clothing. My all-time comic hero remains Barry Humphries in terms of character comedy, he can't be beaten.

"I think there are a lot of similarities between the characters of Dame Edna and Keith Barret. They both kill with kindness."

Keith belongs to the Great British comic tradition of pitifully self-deluded characters, that stretches back to Hancock and encompasses such figures as Basil Fawlty, Alan Partridge and David Brent.

"I don't think that all comedy has to have a vein of sadness through it," Brydon muses, "but Keith does and that makes him a more effective comic creation. That sense of great pathos goes back to Alan Bennett's Talking Heads.

"From Woody Allen to Larry Sanders to The Office, what I have always loved in comedy is the idea of self-delusion. I adore characters who, because of their own flaws, are unable to see the full picture. There's an awful lot of humour in that. With Keith, it's not delusions of grandeur, but delusions of adequacy!"

Paul Hamilton, the character Brydon plays in Super Nova, is also blind to his own deficiencies. The actor sketches the details of his alter ego: "he's a man who is desperate to work in an observatory, but so far has only got as far as teaching astronomy.

"His relationship is going nowhere, so he jumps at the chance of working at the Royal Observatory in Australia. He's got a planet-sized brain, but is not so great socially. When he goes out to Oz, it's a classic fish out of water comedy. He's a socially awkward bloke trying to find his feet in a foreign land."

Brydon found himself captivated by Australia. "It's very similar to the UK, only the weather is better and the people are friendlier. We filmed in the desert near Broken Hill. I'd urge you to go out there it's hugely worth it. I'm a convert. We got some amazing shots out there not the sort of scenery you'd see in Terry and June!"

For the time being, though, Brydon is concentrating on his tour and the prospect really fires him up. "When you're up on stage connecting with an audience, everything is in its place," he enthuses. "When it's buzzing, it's a fantastic night out."

So do go along. The Keith Barret Show is surely the most fun any couple (or indeed anyone not currently in a relationship!) can have with their clothes on.

The Keith Barret Show Live is on June, 1, 8pm at Wycombe Swan. Tickets: 01494 512000