PAUL MERTON is a very funny man. Except when he isn't which, insists the comedian himself, is most of the time.

"Vanilla," he says, in trademark monotone. "That's the word I'd use to describe myself before I'd use the word funny. I'm pretty much a vanilla person, I think. Never an overnight sensation, but always in work."

And he heads off on a Merton tangent. "I want to be quality vanilla, though. Absolutely no rubbish. I'll be the stuff that's four times more expensive than Mr Whippy and comes in a cardboard box ..."

Suddenly the interview is transported to the realms of Have I Got News for You, where Merton hones the sharpest of wit in live verbal spats with co-captain Ian Hislop.

Today, though, it's his other day job which is preoccupying his mind.

"I'm doing Gyles Brandreth this afternoon," he announces, referring to his long-running BBC2 series Room 101.

"I think his jumpers are already in there, but not him as a man."

While he's notched up an incredible 15 years with Have I Got News, his solo TV vehicle is a relative youngster at just six.

He actually came to it three series in, taking over from Nick Hancock,

but believes it's still as fresh as when he arrived.