HE might dress in black, listen to heavy metal and practise the occult. But don’t call Andrew O’Neill a goth.

The stand-up is perhaps the only occult comedian on the UK comedy circuit and he brings his routine to Colchester on Friday.

He says: “I’m not a goth. This is an understandable error, but there is a difference between a metaller who cross-dresses and a goth.

“If need be, I will fight you to demonstrate that difference.

“I've got nothing against goths. Some of my best friends are goths.

“Their food is lovely and they have natural rhythm.”

His latest show, Occult Comedian, was premiered in Edinburgh last year and is described as whimsy meeting the mysterious side of life.

He adds: “I've pretty much been a show-off since birth.

“I did comedy sketches in assemblies at school, and messed up my A-levels making comedy films with my mates on my brother’s camcorder.

“You will never get to see these, because my mates would kill me if I put them on the net.”

Andrew’s surreal, political style has attracted quite a following in Edinburgh, giving him a cult following.

His interest in all things dark and mysterious includes performing regular walking tours of Jack the Ripper’s murder sites with an adapted version of his controversial live show, Winston Churchill was Jack the Ripper.

As well as being a regular on the international stand-up circuit, performing at the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne and New Zealand comedy festivals, Andrew has been busy gigging with his band, the Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing.