Jenny Éclair has been a stand-up for donkey’s years, and was the first woman to win the coveted Perrier Award. She pops up on programmes including This Morning and Loose Women and still gigs regularly, and is now back to knock some sense into the nation with the latest incarnation of her Grumpy Old Women show, Fifty Shades of Beige. She talks to Rosy Moorhead.

What are some of the things you’re going to be talking about this time around?

It’s a mixture of sketch and stand-up, so we’ve got a nagging masterclass, a guide to hobbies, a big dancing dance-off, a massive spy routine, we have a look at technology, at grooming, how big pants can save your life, there’s a big thing on what to do about elderly parents. It sort of runs the gamut, really.

It’s nearly ten years since you and co-writer and co-creator Judith Holder first took the show out on the road – why is it still so popular, do you think?

Each are totally different. People who’ve seen show one and show two understand they’re going to see something completely different but with a kind of thread, that starts from the Grumpy concept. It’s quite physical as well, it’s not three women just sitting on stools.

And this time around you’re with Susie Blake and Kate Robbins – how are you three getting along?

There’s been no hair-pulling as yet. I’ve worked with Susie before, she did Grumpy 2, she came into the West End with that. It’s a tricky show, it’s not an easy casting thing at all because you have to be physically fit, want to do one-night-stands, be able to do comedy, and want to do this. It’s a combination of talent and stamina – and not eating smelly food in the hire car.

Do you and Judith have an idea of who you’re going to want in the show when you’re writing it?

Yes, they tend to be one less worldly-wise one slightly posher; me in the middle; and then there tends to be an everywoman. So in this scenario, Susie is the posh, faux-naïve, and Kate is the everywoman who really speaks for the majority of women in the audience. And once you’ve got the actresses on board, you’ll tweak it. You tailor it to the cast once you’ve got the cast.

What’s it like on the tour bus with the three of you?

There will be rules. The great thing about new technology is that you can just disappear off with your headphones and your iPad if one of them’s getting on your nerves. But there will be regular lavatory stops, which is obviously incredibly important. Susie gets obsessed about hot vegetables and always likes to come off the motorway to a nice pub and I just want to go to Marks and Spencer and the motorway service station. Kate doesn’t eat as much as us two at all. This is determining the tour! I think we’re going to have to have everyone being queen of the people carrier on a revolving basis, you have a day where it’s your choice.

And does the show continue off-stage – you get on the bus and continue having a moan about things?

No, that would be ridiculous! You’ve got to conserve your energy for the audience – it’s no point peaking in the people carrier, we’ve got to peak on stage!

Why should the good people of Watford come and see the show?

It really, really is a treat, honestly, I guarantee you value for money, and just seeing a lot of what you recognise in yourself on stage. Basically, the biggest homage is to the women it’s for – it’s basically all about you.