UNLIKE many of his counterparts who shot to fame and fortune on the back of the alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s, Alexei Sayle has never really been considered "trendy".

Despite an impressive CV that includes stand-up comedian with his own television series, Hollywood movie actor and now author, he has not enjoyed the exposure and plaudits that have greeted fellow travellers such as Ben Elton and Lenny Henry.

Maybe he was too angry, too ready to fire his cannon at targets that were less obvious. Certainly he kicked over the same statues for a while (Thatcherism, popular culture), but he thought about issues, too. And still does.

Ahead of an appearance at the Bury Met Arts Centre, where he will be reading from his latest novel Overtaken, as well as his short story collections Barcelona Plates and The Dog Catcher, and answering questions from the audience on everything from communism to stubborn stain removal, he explained that the anger is still there, if not as visible.

"I suppose it does annoy me that Lenny Henry has been done by the South Bank Show, when I haven't," he said. "But then again, if they did a programme on me, I would just spend the first half ranting at Melvyn for not getting round to me sooner."

His reputation as an author has grown since the publication of 'Overtaken', his second novel. The book zips along without diversion, and it addresses universal themes -- friendship, death and the role of culture in society.

Above all, it is about revenge, about what happens after the narrator's friends die at the hands of a callous tipper-truck driver on the way to a Frank Skinner show at the Manchester Evening News Arena.

It confirms Sayle as a gifted fantasist and a natural storyteller, and there are some good jokes on the way to the retribution.

His literary voice has developed into an accomplished, sensitive and satisfying read, but when he started writing, he was still conscious of not being taken seriously.

"It was a slight concern at first, when you see other comedians who turn to writing. Their efforts are always seen as an extension of their performance. Obviously, some of the quality of writing deserved no better, but it made me determined that I would be viewed as a serious author."

'Serious' is one word that could sum up Sayle's reputation. 'Difficult' is another.

"Yeah, I think I can be difficult. Maybe that is one of the reasons why I was never really famous. I kind of followed my artistic instincts and did my own thing."

Some of his work has led to accusations of 'selling out' from the left-wing old guard, most notably his commercial voiceover work for products such as Pot Noodle.

"The whole media thing is a game, and you have to play it, as well as earning a living. Some people just don't get it. Just because you have a public persona, usually media-driven, it doesn't mean you have to play up to it all the time. I didn't, and I think I was criticised for it."

The current tour is a mixture of live readings, a bit of comedy and questions from the audience. Is this a more comfortable style of performance?

"In some ways. One of the things you don't have doing stand-up is the chance to meet the audience, talk to them a bit. This allows me and the people there to have a more intimate evening, where we can talk and develop ideas."

When this is over, though, Sayle is committed to cementing his authorial reputation. He has a book scheduled for release in September next year, which he cannot talk about except to say he's "happy with the way it's going". But he will be off the circuit for a while. He needs to write.

It is that compulsion that marks the complete author from the literary dilettante.

And Alexei Sayle is no dilettante.

Alexei Sayle will be at The Met Arts Centre, Bury, on Thursday, October 7, at 8pm.