For stand-up comic Jarred Christmas, the birth of daughter Maggie was more than just a memorable day in his life.

It was time to re-evaluate everything, including what he does for a living.

And the New Zealand funnyman admits he has not looked back since that day 15 months ago.

Christmas explains: “The reality really hit me when I had to sign the birth certificate for Maggie and it asked for father’s occupation.

“I wrote down ‘stand-up comedian’ and it just seemed a weird moment and from then on the pressure has really been on.

“Before if I did not get any laughs I just walked off stage and looked for the next gig but now the fact is if I don’t get any laughs Maggie could starve as I’ll be out of work.

“It has really made me look beyond myself, whcih is something I think each and every one of us should do.”

Thankfully there is still plenty of food on the Christmas table, not surprising when you consider the success the comic has had with his story-based musings since moving from Christchurch to London.

The joker heads to Clapham this weeks as part of his Jarred Christmas Stands Up tour, and reveals he cannot get enough of the UK’s comedy scene.

He adds: “In New Zealand things were incredibly frustrating as I found I really enjoyed stand-up, only to realise there is one purpose-built comedy club in the whole of the country.

“Then someone handed me a Time Out London magazine which had all the comedy listings in it and I thought ‘I want some of that’.

“So I came over here and things have gone really well.

“The crowds over here are so savvy when it comes to comedy and it is usually a pretty diverse audience and they do not mind telling you if they do not like you!”

Aside from his gigs, Christmas has also made appearances on the likes of Mock the Week and Big Brother’s Little Brother.

Most impressive though, is that the funnyman is one of the faces of Pot Noodle, having starred in the ads for the past three years.

Christmas reveals: “I went along to the auditions and it was stuffed full of all these comedians.

“I knew singing was part of it and I can’t sing so I just thought ‘what the hell’ and really went for it.

“I belted out Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero and at the end they were in stitches.

“For some reason I got selected and it has been great fun doing a couple of adverts a year since.

“I can’t say I eat them myself but if you like them good luck to you and I’m sure I could get you a few!”

Highlight Club, Clapham Junction, October 24, 7.30pm, £10, 0844 844 0044