Shappi Khorsandi is reclaiming patriotism. The comedian, who is of Iranian origin, will be taking to the stage at Lighthouse, Poole, this evening, to send a love letter to her adopted land, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her arrival in Britain.

Following a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and autumn UK tour, Khorsandi's Oh My Country! tour covers everything from Morris dancing to Morrisey with her razor sharp wit, mischievous delivery and charm.

She is much hailed as a comedian, having established herself in 2006 with a sell-out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker, where she told the story of how her family were forced to flee Iran and gain asylum in the UK.

This show lead to the publication of her childhood memoirs, A Beginner's Guide To Acting English, her best selling literary debut.

The book describes the way in which Khorsandi experienced England as a young girl as well as the war between Iran and Iraq, and the hostilities that she and her family encounter—she notes, for example, having been referred to as a terrorist.

The family moved to London, where Khorsandi still lives, after the Islamic Revolution following the publication of a satirical poem her father - who is also a stand-up comedian - composed, which was seen as critical of the revolutionary regime.

"Obviously there's free speech in Iran, but little freedom after you've spoken," says Khorsandi, who was raised without any religion and, in December 2015 was elected president of the British Humanist Society.

While she cannot go back to Iran, Khorsandi's career has taken her to all corners of the globe and she has appeared on countless TV and radio shows including Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, QI and Just a Minute.

She says she is proud of being a "spit and sawdust" stand-up, and that one of her favourite things is pulling on her wellies, trudging through muddy fields and performing at every music festival which has a comedy tent - from Glastonbury to Secret Garden Party.

However she also enjoys writing and, as well as her 2009 debut, had a novel, Nina Is Not Ok, published last July to much critical acclaim, with a screenwriting debut in the form of Sky's Little Crackers and a recent commission to write a drama script for BBC Television.

She has received an honorary doctorate from Winchester University for her contribution to the arts, and recently received the prestigious James Joyce award from Dublin University.

Khorsandi's whip-crack jokes have seen her notching up numerous high profile television appearances, including her own Comedy Store Special for Comedy Central, and she has had the honour of being nominated at the prestigious British Comedy Awards in the Best Female Comic category, up against fellow nominees Jo Brand and Sarah Millican.

Shappi Khorsandi is at Lighthouse, Poole, tonight. Details and tickets from lighthousepoole.co.uk