Dom Joly has said that making comedy programmes for the BBC was one of the most miserable times of his life.

The Trigger Happy TV star became so successful with his sketch show that he won a contract at the BBC and stayed there for four years, but admitted it was not a happy time.

He said: “I hated the BBC, I hated every moment of it.

Dom Joly
Dom Joly did not enjoy the BBC (Ian West/PA)

“I’m an outsider and I think I work best when I’m on the outside, and when Trigger Happy happened, I was suddenly a celebrity and successful within the establishment, and it’s very difficult to have a go and take the Mickey out of the establishment when you’re part of it.”

Now, comedian Dom spends a lot of his time travelling and has written books on the subject, as well as articles for The Independent and The Sunday Times, but worries about whether people will take him seriously as a travel expert on TV.

He said: “I want to be the new Michael Palin, but funnier. But I’m not just doing this for the telly, I’m serious about travelling.

Dom Joly
Dom Joly wants to be a travel presenter (Ian West/PA)

“The problem in England is that I’m just the ‘big phone guy’. I’m a prankster, and no matter how hard I try to tell people I’m much more interested in travel and I’ve been doing that for 10 years, people think, ‘But why should we put the squirrel guy on a travel show?’.”

He went on: “I’m going to the States where I’m known for Trigger Happy, but I’m not pigeonholed by it. America’s a lot more exciting, and it’s big.”

Here Comes The Clown by Dom Joly is published by Simon & Schuster, priced £18.99. Available now