Love is only the dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species, said W Somerset Maugham. And, in a world where women openly aspire to become Wags (Wives and girlfriends of footballers) and men shop for beautiful, exotic catalogue brides

Love is only the dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species, said W Somerset Maugham.

And, in a world where women openly aspire to become Wags (Wives and girlfriends of footballers) and men shop for beautiful, exotic catalogue brides - Lucy Porter sets out to bust the love myth wide open.

"The show is all about love," she says.

"It started off as a cynical look at love and it still has a bit of that - there is something for everyone.

"I took a scholarly look at love and the views of different historical people from the Dalai Lama to Gandhi."

Lucy is an award-winning comedian with the Radio Forth Best Comedian Award and The Fringe Report Award for Best Stand Up under her belt.

The 32-year-old from North London says that a lot of her material for the latest tour, Lucy Porter Love-In, comes from personal experience.

"Luckily I'm a bit of an idiot.

"A lot of it comes from personal experience, some from friends and family.

"It's all very close to home.

"People seem to enjoy my embarrassing stories about rubbish dates I've been on.

"And people like to come and have a chat after the show.

"I've become an accidental agony aunt.

"I get some good stories out of people, which I use in my shows - I just promise not to identify them."

Although shy when she was younger, Lucy has always been a joker.

"I've always been a big fan of comedy.

"I was always writing funny things at school - in English lessons I'd write something funny so that when it was read in front of the class it got a laugh.

"I wanted to be a writer, but I went to Manchester University where there is a big comedy scene, and just fell into it.

"I also wanted to conquer my fear of public speaking."

Lucy is a regular on television, having appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got News For You among others.

She is also currently writing a new drama for the BBC.

But she says she is happiest when she is on stage.

"I was nervous at first, but once you get over that, it's brilliant fun - I get to play and have fun for an hour."

"I've been doing this so long now that everything has happened to me.

"My most embarrassing moment was when a backdrop fell on my head and I passed out.

"Everyone was really worried but I carried on like a trooper."

Lucy says her plans for the future include just continuing what she is doing and what she loves.

"The tour has been well attended.

"It's great fun and has some very interesting revelations in it."

Lucy Porter's Love-in is her third tour and sixth solo show, and follows a sell-out residency at the Edinburgh Festival 2007.

She comes to the Gordon Craig Theatre on May 7 at 7.45pm.

Tickets cost £14 and are available from the box office on 08700 131030 or online at www.gordon-craig.co.uk