THERE comes a point in every stand-up comedian's life when the temptation to write a novel becomes too much to bear. It happened to Ben Elton and David Baddiel, and now it's happening to Jeff Green - sort of.

Rather than go all-out for the full-on literary epic, the mild-mannered comic has opted for a collection of his best routines, packed under the title The A-Z of Living Together.

"It contains as many of my routines about relationships - and lots more I wrote especially for the book - as I could get together," explains Green, a regular face on TV panel shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and They Think It's All Over.

The comedian hasn't completely given up on the stand-up, though. His latest tour has been hailed as his best yet and is overflowing with his trademark razor-sharp observations.

Encroaching middle age forms much of the subject matter of the show, with Jeff musing on such topical forty-something issues as Internet shopping and the strange allure of shop window dummies.

Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, October 31. Box office: 023 9286 3911