Russell Howard talks politics, fame and New Zealand sushi

Russell Howard is a big fan of Auckland Japanese staple Tanuki's Cave. Photo / supplied

There's a special reason why UK comedian Russell Howard holds New Zealand fondly in his heart, and it's far from the usual cliches.

Howard tried sushi for the first time in New Zealand - and the comic says it was "mind-blowing".

"One of my heroes, Ross Noble, introduced me to sushi at Tanuki's Cave, underneath The Classic in Auckland - I'm just eating this incredible food that I've never had, sat next to my hero, and then I get to do a gig later. So I have very fond memories."

Howard first came to New Zealand at the age of 23 supporting fellow British comedian Lee Mack, which was his first time travelling for stand-up comedy. He says it was "real pinch yourself kind of stuff", performing shows in festivals halfway around the world and hanging out with international and local comedy legends - "I watched Kill Bill with Bret [McKenzie] from the [Flight of the] Conchords."

Now 37, Howard has ascended his way to the top of the comedy world, with The Telegraph UK describing him as "one of the most successful stand-ups of his generation". His latest tour is his biggest yet, and has the self-explanatory title of Round the World - which, Howard says, came from a desire to get back to basics.

"Last time we toured in America we just had a picture of me without any of the reviews, but I look like a Marks & Spencer model for Christ's sake. I look ridiculous. I think people thought, 'Is he going to be a singer-songwriter? Is he an ex-boy band member that's now going solo?'

"In England, I'll just whack a poster up and they'll go, 'Oh yeah, Russell's doing a show'. But we'd kind of forgotten people don't know who I am in Norway."

Russell Howard: "I look like a Marks and Spencer model for Christ's sake". Photo / supplied

Howard begins his New Zealand leg fresh from a run of shows throughout Scandinavia, which followed an extensive North American tour. Not afraid to include politics in his humour, Howard says the US made for a particularly interesting run because of the country's torrid political climate.

"You feel like you're a cousin visiting a traumatised family - it's a country that just feels completely broken and divided. It's so similar to England at the minute, with Brexit - there are so many similarities there."

Comedy and politics are arguably more intrinsically linked than ever, with the recent example of Kathy Griffin's depiction of a beheaded President Trump exposing the murky definitions of what audiences consider acceptable. But, Howard says, despite some slight pushback in the more conservative-leaning city of Nashville, he won't stop using politics in his humour anytime soon.

"There's comedy in mocking bigots and there's comedy in mocking liberals. You just have to laugh at the absurdity of the world really. I think that's the only choice you have."

Russell Howard performs in Christchurch on Friday 30 June, Wellington Saturday 1 and Auckland Sunday 2 July. For full ticket and tour information visit: livenation.co.nz