Chris Parker says hosting the annual Comedy Festival gala is 'pretty easy'

New Zealand comedian Chris Parker says hosting the Comedy gala is a "pretty easy" gig.

Speaking on AM on Thursday ahead of the launch of the 2024 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Parker revealed: "You get a lot of clout for the job, but it's actually pretty easy."

The 2018 Fred Award Winner will front a show that has 18 comedians on the bill. It will air on Three and ThreeNow later in May.

When asked by AM host Melissa Chan-Green if it meant he had to filter his thoughts while live on stage, Parker said he sometimes found it hard.

"My relationship with the audience is like they're my best friends so I just want to gossip. So my mouth just starts going and I have to be like 'Chris, rein it in'."

As well as hosting, Parker is about to embark on a nationwide tour of New Zealand.

He will take his new show 'Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn’t Throw My Phone Off This Bridge' to venues in Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington in June and July.

Watch the AM interview above.