Calling into SunLive ahead of his Tauranga performance in January, British comedian and TV personality Jimmy Carr says that "absolutely nothing" will be off limits at his upcoming Kiwi tour.

"Name something controversial, and I'll do three or four one liners about it, you better believe it.

"There isn't a topic I don't cover. Who knows what they'll cancel me for next. Roll the dice."

Carr says if cancel culture is real, it only "adds to the fun" of being a comedian where no topic is off the table.

"I'm not even sure that cancel culture is a real thing. Are any of us truly cancelled? We're all still working right? I speak to Dave Chapelle and Ricky Gervais all the time, and no one seems to have been cancelled. We're all still working."

The comedian, who is also known for hosting various television shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats, says the best way to deal with hecklers whilst on stage is to engage.

"If someone heckles you at a show, it's your chance to show off. It's like being a magician and being able to do real magic.

"You've written the show, you've got the jokes, then something unexpected happens. You go into comedy to be funny, so you know what? Be funny."

He says hecklers "have to be a fool" to think they can add value in that moment.

"A great thing about my audience is that they're self-selecting. I only get people with my sense of humour coming to my show, which is great because they get it, and they're smart, and they get when it's a good time to join in."

Jimmy Carr's most recent stand-up comedy special, 'His Dark Material' was the most streamed on Netflix in the UK in 2021. Photo: Supplied/SunLive.

Carr is known for his fast, quick witted comebacks to hecklers while performing.

He says his secret to being quick on his feet comes from years of experience.

"I don't want to toot my own horn, but basically I am match fit. I have spent a lot of time on stage.

"If you're ever chatting to an airline pilot, they won't tell you how many years they have been flying a plane, they will tell you how many hours in the air. It's the same thing as being a comedian... you just get good at it by doing it a lot."

When being questioned if there is anything he would like to answer that doesn't typically get asked of him, Carr says it seems like he was being asked to do "too much work".

"I'm doing your job as well? What? No, you're meant to be interviewing me. I'm not doing both sides of this. That's crazy talk."

He says the best night of comedy he has ever had as a performer is being on a bill with other comedians.

"Recently I played the Hollywood Ball with Dave Chappelle. I was on the bill with Jeff Ross, John Stewart, Michelle Wolf, Chris Rock. That's a pretty great bill to be on.

"That really makes you feel like ‘well I better up my game here and deliver' but Chappelle often does that. He brings the circus with him and it is a magnificent thing to be a part of for a couple of evenings."

When it comes to his favourites in comedy, Jimmy Carr says he "loves what Chris Rock does at the moment".

"I'll name people I've watched recently. I love what Sarah Milican does. There's a comedian called Neal Brennan from the States and he's got a special which I think might be one of the best specials ever made, it's called ‘Three Mics' on Netflix, check it out.

"There's so much great stuff out there. I love it."

Jimmy Carr's television credits include 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Roast Battle on Comedy Central UK, his Netflix panel show The Fix, and Live at the Apollo. Photo: Supplied/SunLive.

When asked if there is anything that would be considered ‘too far' as a comedian, Carr says there is no reason for anything to be off limits in comedy.

"I'll throw it back to you. You're a journalist right? Is there anything that is too terrible to write about? As a doctor, is there a disease that is too terrible to cure? No!

"It is absolutely reasonable that a journalist would write about anything, that a doctor would take on a disease no matter how terrible, and a comedian would joke about anything."

Carr says one of the things he is looking forward to the most about returning to New Zealand is the cuisine.

"I had the most amazing culinary experience last time I was in the country. I remember there were about four or five restaurants on Cuba Street in Wellington that were just game changing-ly awesome.

"But all round the place, there's great coffee, great people, great hanging and cool bars. I loved everything about touring there, it's just wonderful.

"I always say that New Zealand is not just a long way away, but a long time ago. I feel as though it is a different era and a different vibe going on there, but you guys live very, very well."

Carr says he found his passion in comedy as a fan before ever considering being a performer.

"I am still a bigger consumer of comedy even now than I am a producer. I was a fan first an foremost, and I've kept that up through my career.

"The problem with being a comedian really, and this is the only thing I'll whinge about being a comedian, is that work is more fun than 'fun'.

"So when you have a night off you go ‘it's not as good as my job.' If I go out and have dinner with my friends, it's not as good as my job. It's just not as much fun. Apologies to any friends that are reading this but it isn't. My job is just amazing."

Carr says since his tickets for his New Zealand tour went on sale, the response has been outstanding.

"I think I may be a bigger comedian in New Zealand than I am in England. The per capita sales have been extraordinary. I've sold a lot of tickets and I'm really excited about it. I cannot wait.

"I'm basically going everywhere you've got. If you've got a theatre, I'm playing it. I've put a lot of work to make sure I've got nice references to what's going on in your town and in your world.

"It's a common courtesy, I am a guest in your country."

Jimmy Carr is set to perform at Tauranga's Trust Arena Baypark on Thursday, January 26 2023 as part of his UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand tour, ‘Terribly Funny.'

He describes the tour as 'unremittingly brutal, funny and weird.'

For more information on the upcoming tour, or to purchase a ticket to one of Jimmy Carr's New Zealand performances, visit https://www.bohmpresents.com/.