So Lloyd, when did you first discover that you could make people laugh?

''Well I was always a tubby little idiot that tried to show off in front of family and friends, then became the class clown at school so I guess it progressed since then. I used to do this jokey thing at school where I would dive on the playground floor to make people laugh, like, proper goalkeeper save but with no football in sight, ruined my knees and my George at ASDA school trousers but it made people laugh so I didn’t care.''

How did you become a professional comedian?

''When I moved to London in 2008 I started going to see live comedy in East London. It blew my mind. The first night I went to see live comedy both Milton Jones and Micky Flanagan were on the bill, neither of which had done any TV at the time, and they were both out of this world. From then on in, I just wanted to find the route that they took in order to be a comedian.''

Unlike most comedians you’ve got great taste in clothes, what made you decide to go against that rich stand up tradition of wearing awful suits and/or terrible denim?

''Well, as a comedian you have to be careful. I like wearing really nice clothes off stage, but on stage you can’t look too good as then you lose comic ability. Comedy is all about what you look like and how you dress. If you come out looking proper dapper then people are suspicious, if you come out in a bin bag then you’re already on to a winner. So I straddle a fine line on stage. Offstage, I treat myself hun.''

Which audiences do you find are the best/worst dressed?

''I’m obviously not going to say which place is the worst dressed as I’m on a national tour and really need to shift some tickets in that specific town. I’d say Manchester is always well dressed, as you’d expect. But then Margate the other night was surprisingly cool - lots of northern workwear.''

Your long awaited stand up tour ‘Not Just a Pretty Face’ finally kicked off in September, how do you feel about going back on the road after the pandemic and what’s the show all about?

''I honestly couldn’t wait. 18 months is a long time to not do the thing that you love, and that mentally has kept you going for the last 10 years. Even in the short time that I did warm up shows in the lead up I fell back in love with my job again. The show is about me trying to combine my two loves of football and singing. It’s packed full of jokes though, FYI.''

Watching you attending the Euros matches with Rob Beckett (via your insta account/that BBC cameraman) was a vicarious joy to behold. What were your particular highlights from the tournament and what did experiencing this emotional rollercoaster with Rob do to your relationship?

''Me and Rob were out in Russia for the World Cup final, and sadly obviously England weren’t involved that time round, so it was amazing to watch the England team at Wembley this year do the country proud. I think beating Germany convincingly at Wembley has to be the memory of this tournament. Also, 45,000 people at Wembley was an emotional moment. You could see the tears in people’s eyes. Starved of their love of football for nearly two years and this was some people’s first game. Memories to stick with you for years and years.''

...and how did those monumental hangovers affect your relationship with your girlfriend?

''Hahaha, yeah there were moments where I thought I’d be on the sofa but thankfully she understood the enormity of the occasion. She was proper getting into the football though and did ask if Rob ever caught COVID, could she go in his place… obviously I said yes.''

Speaking of football, are you excited about the new season starting up? What expectations do you have for the Mariners?

''It’s a weird one for Grimsby Town as sadly we’ve just been relegated to the National league, but we’ve also just been taken over by two new owners who have done so much for the football club in the last two months than the previous owners date in 16 years, so there is a real buzz about the place at the moment. Fans are happy, employees are happy, players are happy. People are coming back to the club for the first time in ages and the club is also looking like it’s going to be the heart of the community again. I really can’t wait for the season to start, because having seen us play some preseason friendly games it looks like we have the makings of a tasty team. Obviously hold me to this when we get pumped seven nil by Stockport in a few months time.''

So not content with being a presenter, football expert and comedian you’re also a dab hand at acting. How did that happen and what have been your favourite roles to play so far?

''Yeah, I’ve been really lucky with the roles that I’ve been offered so far. I grew up watching Lee Mack and absolutely love ‘not going out’, so to be able to have a role in one of the episodes of your hero's sitcoms was a dream. Then Ted Lasso has been so well received and I had a small role in It’s a Sin which I’m so proud of as it tells such a valuable story that often goes unmissed.''

The Golden Globes nominated Ted Lasso must be a mad show to work on…

''I’d seen the original Ted Lasso sketches that they’d done with the Premier League for US television and really liked them when they first came out, so when the opportunity came about to be involved in the sitcom I jumped at the chance. Not only is the sitcom incredibly feel good, but being on set with that cast and crew is one of the nicest things in the world. Everyone is so lovely, and I wish I was there every day.''

Having seen you perform live on stage with Blossoms it's evident that you’re also an amazing singer too. Is it true you were a chorister back in the day?

''Not just back in the day, I still do it now. I was a choirboy from the age of seven until 14, then went to university and read music while singing in the cathedral choir as a choral scholar. Now, I sing in a few choirs in and around London, namely St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey. I wear the cassock and everything. I do a bit of singing in my act, and the Blossoms lads saw me at a gig and then asked me to do some backing vocals for their Stockport Plaza gig as well as support them. They’re one of my favourite bands so I literally melted when they asked me. Proper nerdy fan boy moment.''

What kind of stuff do you enjoy singing and when can we expect an album?

''Hahahaha. Nothing in the pipeline as of yet, due to just being busy with comedy and presenting and acting. But the plan is to release some choral music at some point. Not sure if it’s your cup of tea, but it’s proper relaxing.''

Is there anything else that you’re amazing at that we are yet to discover?

''Tape impressions. Google ‘Lloyd Griffith tape impressions’. It’s so weird.''

Final question, who’s got the most powerful diaphragm, you or Jason Manford?

''I mean, OBVIOUSLY me, what kind of question is this?!''

Lloyd is currently on tour around the UK until mid November, Get tickets now to see your favourite choirboy comedian.