SIMON Day, one of the stars of hit BBC comedy The Fast Show, will be appearing at Seven Fish restaurant in Ringwood next month, talking to fans about his new biography, Comedy And Error.

The comic will read extracts from the book then host a question and answer session, before walking round to Paperview bookshop to meet fans and sign copies of his book.

The Fast Show remains one of Britain’s most successful comedy series and made Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson and Simon household names overnight.

Simon was responsible for creating and writing many of the show’s comedy characters and starred as Billy Bleach, Dave Angel and the Competitive Dad.

However, his life hasn’t all been a barrel of laughs. At 15 Simon became homeless, developing a crippling addiction to gambling and drink, and dabbling in crime.

He wound up in prison and subsequently struggled for work, but his luck soon changed in the early 90s. Vic and Bob (of Shooting Stars fame) spotted him doing stand up in a pub and soon he was hanging out with the best comics of the 90s – including his future Fast Show colleagues Arabella Weir, Paul Whitehouse, Caroline Aherne and John Thomson.

However, while his new comic friends were starting families and basking in success, Simon hid behind the drawn curtains of his one-bed flat smoking crack.

Happily his life has turned a corner now and not only has he left a comedy legacy but he also has his own show on Radio 4.

Hear more about Simon’s extraordinary life at Seven Fish Bar, Ringwood on July 4. Tickets for the event (which starts at 7pm) are available at Paperview for £3, which will be redeemable against a book purchase on the night.