Because most comics over 40 are rubbish

Frankie Boyle plans to quit stand-up– because he thinks most comedians are rubbish once they hit 40.

The Mock The Week star, who turns 37 next month, is already planning his farewell tour.

He told the Radio Times: ‘I'm going to do a last tour. I've already written two hours of it.

‘You know what it is - after 40, very few comedians are very good. Very few anybodies are good at anything. The focus really goes.

‘I think I need to do some more sophisticated work. Most stand-up doesn't have much sophistication to it. I've got a couple of pilot scripts for TV shows that I'm quite hopeful about. But the touring's a bit of an anchor on the soul.’

He made similar comments in December, saying: ‘I’m not a performance junkie. I don’t need the fix of adulation. I’ll give it two more years and then retire.

'I’ve got two young kids now and I’m not seeing them at all.’

Boyle has just quit writing his column for the Daily Record, after the newspaper refused to print his gags about Michael Jackson.

Published: 2 Jul 2009