IF you needed any proof that Canadian comic, Craig Campbell has a little bit of Mountie in him then just ask him about dinner with the girlfriend.

He says: “It was quite a few years back but essentially I was having dinner with my girlfriend in London and three men took another woman’s handbag.

“I chased them for a good few blocks before catching up with them and they returned the handbag without much fuss. Of course, when I got back to the restaurant, I discovered they’d also taken my girlfriend’s phone. Now that really hacked me off.

“But, hey, I’m a true blue Canadian, so it’s no wonder there’s a bit of the Mountie within me.”

It’s all good fodder for Craig’s inventive brand of storytelling, with tales about his travels and boisterous re-enactments.

A favourite at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, he made his debut there alongside Tony Law and Dan Antopolski in comedy trio, the Dinks.

Their first show in 2003 was a critical and box office success, leading to an invitation to perform in the Best of Edinburgh programme in New York.

Since then, Craig has supported Rich Hall on his international tour and Frankie Boyle on his record breaking national tour.

Now based in the UK, Craig has presented Sky1’s hit series, From Wimps to Warriors, and appeared on BBC One’s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Russell Howard’s Good News, on BBC Three.

In addition to his UK stand-up tour, Craig regularly performs all over the world from New Zealand to Iceland including such exotic locations as Kazakhstan and Vietnam (proudly Vietnam’s first ever stand-up).

His latest show Easy Tiger is his third solo tour and serves up more of the same Canadian hi-jinx examining such pressing matters as why UK coffee shops close at 6pm

Craig Campbell is at the Colchester Arts Centre in Church Street, next Friday, July 13.

Doors open at 7.30pm with the show starting at 8pm while tickets are available from 01206 500900.