You might not book a cross-dressing, heavy metal-loving stand-up from Tufnell Park to entertain residents at an old people’s home.

But Andrew O’Neill says despite his alternative persona, his comedy is for everyone – and he recently had 80-year-olds laughing away to his tales of hitchhiking and practising black magic at a show in Wells-next-the-Sea.

The 32-year-old funnyman is playing top Highbury gig venue the Garage, in Highbury Corner, for the finale to a European tour on Thursday, March 1.

He said: “I’m a heavy metal-loving, vegan transvestite and the show is about finding ways to be alternative in everyday life.

“But it’s for a general audience – everyone gets the gags. I did it in Wells-next-the-Sea recently to people in their 80s who loved it.

“This will be the last time I ever perform the show, so the audience will see it at its best.”