MY interview with Rob Brydon had been set-up to promote his stand-up tour, Rob Brydon Live, which comes to Blackpool in September.

But in reality, neither of us could wait to get onto the subject of Gavin and Stacey.

After a few polite questions about the tour — he can’t wait to play Blackpool, he’ll be talking about being a dad again, and will be ending the show with a song — we got to grips with everyone’s favourite sitcom.

“We’ve just finished shooting the third series, we shot it over the summer,” said Rob.

“Believe it or not we did have some good weather on some of the days and it was great fun.

“I always love doing Gavin and Stacey. It’s brought me to a much wider audience.

“I was quite culty until Gavin and Stacey.

“Now I’ve become more mainstream, which is great, because it’s nice to reach more people.”

As Uncle Bryn Rob is one of the show’s most popular characters.

Despite having worked in the industry for many years, it’s shouts of “Bryn” he gets in the street from fans.

“That’s right, and I’ll tell you for why,” said Rob, transforming into the inimitable Uncle Bryn.

“It’s because he’s a very nice character and people warm to him. I get a lot of people who say to me ‘I wish you were my uncle’.

“Sometimes they even ask for a hug. That happens quite often actually.

“I didn’t know I was thought of as that huggable.

“I asked my wife about it and I thought she was going to say it’s because I have a wonderful sexual dynamism. But she said ‘I think it’s because you’re small’.

“I thought ‘Oh that’s charming’. They’re doing it because they know their arms will reach around the other side of me. That’s not quite what I had in mind.”

In the second series of the hit show viewers go to see a more rounded complex portrayal of Uncle Bryn, and Rob admitted he had developed this further in series three.

“I liked the more complex side of Bryn,” he said.

“I like him when he gets a bit petulant or a bit anxious and stressed out, I think that makes him a rounder character.

“There’s one line, which I’m not allowed to say, in the third series where he gets cross with somebody and I loved doing that.”

And he wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not we would learn about what happened with Jason on that fishing trip either.

“I’m not allowed to say,” said Rob with a laugh. “I wish I could give you some indication either way, but I’m not allowed.”

With four British Comedy Awards, two Baftas and a South Bank award to its name, Gavin and Stacey is widely regarded as one of the best sitcoms of its time.

“We didn’t know it was going to be a hit because you can never assume something will be a hit,” said Rob.

“We all knew it was very good and that it was a superior piece of writing, but hits are very rare and to get a show that takes off the way Gavin and Stacey has, well you’re lucky to get one of those in your career.

“Most actors are just happy to be working. I feel very fortunate.”

Born in Swansea, South Wales, the son of a car dealer father and school teacher mother, Rob’s career began as a voice artist. In his heyday he would record four or five voiceovers a day and although he has slowed down, he is still the voice of many TV advertisement campaigns.

“I am the voice of Hula Hoops, the National Lottery, Sainsbury’s, the trainline.com,” reeled off Rob.

“I still enjoy doing them. It’s certainly a nicer way to earn money than mining.”

The 49-year-old has also recently taken over the presenting from Angus Deayton on BBC1 panel show Would I Lie to you? in which famous contestants must read out a statement about themselves and convince the other team they are telling the truth.

“It’s a great show,” said Rob.

“It’s kind of old fashioned in a sense that people get the chance to talk. It’s not cynical and nasty.

“People are given a chance to be very funny and very witty on it.

“I enjoyed working with team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack, they both make me laugh enormously. I got to sit in between them and just laugh, that was great.

“As for people who came on each week - Fern Britton was very good as I remember, she surprised me. And Russell Howard, and Jimmy Carr, they’re always good on these shows.”

So is he an expert at telling fibs now?

“No, I’m not, I don’t have any special powers in that area. I’m okay at little lies but at big ones I get a bit flustered.

“I think I’d be rather wary of anybody who says ‘I am a very good liar’. I’m not sure I’d particularly want to know that person.”

l See Rob Brydon Live at Blackpool Opera House on September 18. For tickets call 0870 380 1111.

Series three of Gavin & Stacey is coming to BBC1 this autumn.