Why, he wouldn't say taboo to a mouse

On stage, he's brash, foul-mouthed and incredibly lewd. No wonder London-based Australian comedian Jim Jeffries has a reputation for causing a stir.

But in person, Jeffries - described by one critic as 'not for the faint-hearted' - is mild-mannered and pleasant, and says he doesn't deserve his controversial reputation.

'I've had walkouts, people crying, people asking for their money back,' says the 28- year-old stand-up. He says his reputation is probably a result of 'the dramatic exits they make. Often they're a bit drunk and have only heard a word they don't like, but haven't listened to the whole joke. I'm sure they feel a bit silly afterwards. I never set out to upset people. I don't consider myself to be offensive. I've never done a racist joke in my entire life. I've done jokes about diseases, disability and sex.

'If it's out there, it's worth joking about - as long as it's not done with hurtful intention. If people come up to me afterwards and say they agree with everything I said, then I think they're right arseholes.'

Jeffries admits that the 'c-word', which he uses liberally, can cause offence, and many of his sets are about sex and pornography - a keen personal interest. He often veers into taboo territory such as talking about the relative merits of male and female genital size.

But he says taboo jokes aren't an easy way out because they're harder to get a laugh out of. 'You're walking a line when you know you could offend someone, when someone could start crying or run out of the room,' he says. 'I'm just fascinated by the common untold. There are a lot of things about sex that men and women both think but would never say.' He says his parents have seen his act and are fine with it.

Jeffries, from Perth, Western Australia, went to London five years ago to work odd jobs while trying to get a break on the comedy circuit. He says comedians struggle to earn a living in Australia compared with the vibrant British scene, where he's now well-known.