...but not until 2003

Eddie Izzard is planning a huge European tour - but not until 2003.

But until then he says he wants to concentrate on serious acting, and developing his own films.

The comic - who has taken over the lead in the West End's A Day In The Death of Joe Egg, opening tonight - will also have to find the time to learn German in the 18 months before returning to stand-up.

For he intends to perform the first gig, in Berlin, in the local language - in the same way he performed in French for Parisians. The last night, at Wembley, should prove less of a challenge.

But Izzard told London's Evening Standard that comedy was currently on the back burner. "I've been trying to push into crossover roles," he said. "My first ambition was to be an actor rather than a comedian.

"I was shit at street theathre for about a year, then I was shit at stand-up for the first 18 months. When I started acting, I was pretty shit, but I think I'm less shit now."

He has three films out in the next year - The Revenger's Tragedies, playing Charlie Chaplin in The Cat's Meow, and as a transvestite in the war movie All The Queen's Men. But he's still planning his own projects.

"Originally I though I'd write, direct, produce, star - everything, like I did when I was at university. But then I realised that you end up being rubbish in at least two of those roles, so I'm looking for a writer to evolve ideas."

He also said he was 'going through a butch phase', temporarily shunning his transvestitism in favour of masculine clothes.

Published: 11 Dec 2001