There are many misconceptions and, in fact, outright lies in circulation about Rhona Cameron.

That she's a stand-up comic who only addresses gay issues; that she'll grab any opportunity to do reality TV; that she 'outed' former partner and fellow comic Su Perkins; that she's as hard as nails and a fearsome no-nonsense straight-talker.

All unfounded and untrue, but rumours and preconceived ideas that have dogged Rhona throughout her career.

After spending 45 minutes with Rhona, we've cleared up all of the above misconceptions and I find her sharply funny, brutally honest, aware of her shortcomings, beautifully articulate and a real pleasure to talk to.

Far from pining for the time when she never seemed to be off our screens, Rhona herself chose to take a step back from television and concentrate on live work as well as making a seemless transition into writing. Her memoir 1979 – A Big Year In A Small Town (2003) and first novel The Naked Drinking Club (2007) were extremely well received by both press and public.

Rhona is taking part in Pride Bristol – a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community – firstly engaging audiences in a reading of her moving autobiography and then bringing her fiery observations and impeccable delivery to Jester's Comedy Club at Metropolis for a one-off stand-up performance.

"Because of the many different story strands in the book, 1979 does seem to touch a lot of people," explains Rhona.

"A kid outsider, the death of a father, the gay thing, adoption... it's all in there and other people who have experienced these things do get in touch with me.

"I'm about to write the screenplay of it," she reveals.

"There have been a few people who have wanted to turn it into a film, but I have declined because I really wanted to do it myself.

"I think that I do have a natural director's eye, although I am yet to experiment with that in my career. I see scenes wherever I go, and I certainly see scenes of that book when I go home to Mussleburgh, just outside Edinburgh."

But it's for stand-up that the Scottish comic is best known and Bristol audiences will be treated to Rhona's sharp wit and appealing natural delivery next month.

"This will be the first stand-up I've done for nine or 10 months, but I'll be doing a wee night in London first because I might be a bit rusty.

"I have a very strange, ambivalent relationship with stand-up. I sometimes feel that I don't want to do it again but then I'll realise that I do miss it. What I miss is being able to communicate and connect with others."

One of the best-known stand up comedians in the UK, Rhona Cameron made an impact on the comedy scene in 1992, winning Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny award. A decade of sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows and tours in the UK followed.

But the comic, also known for her entertaining musings on Grumpy Old Women, has always had to fight against people's preconceptions of what a lesbian comic is.

"I once performed in New Zealand where I was completely unknown," Rhona recalls. "Their biggest act over there is the Topp Twins, who happen to be lesbians, but what they do as comedians overrides their sexual orientation and nobody ever thinks about their lesbianism.

"So because comedy-goers in New Zealand haven't got a problem with an act being a lesbian, I was greeted by this huge, most mixed audience I have ever had in my life. It was wonderful not to be judged. Not for people to think 'Oh, maybe I won't like her because she's a lesbian'. It gave me such confidence on stage.

"It's funny, people don't think 'He's a straight, white, hetrosexual man... maybe I won't like his comedy style'," laughs Rhona.

"But some people have these odd ideas about black, lesbian or gay stand-ups. Then they'll come along and think 'Wow, that was nothing like I expected'.

"These were some of the more difficult aspects of stand-up that I would carry with me for years," she admits.

"But the actual stand-up itself, and the pleasure of that communication with the audience, is an innate part of my being."

Rhona's successful career as a stand-up was followed by her own TV sitcom, which was sharply observed but not greatly received. And then came the dawning of reality TV.

Rhona was a participant in the first series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2002 and appeared in Celebrity Wife Swap just last year.

"When I did I'm A Celebrity..., it was all new and it was a well-paid job that you didn't have to write material for. I had bills to pay, so I agreed to do it.

"It was very big show with 12 million viewers, it won a BAFTA and I won a TV award, so to be fair, it did help me in many ways.

"But I'm a very different person now to what I was then. I'm quite a late developer – one of those people who has really come alive in their forties.

"The stuff I did after that I absolutely loathed though, including Wife Swap last year."

In the TV series Rhona swapped lives with Viv Boardman, the wife of Eighties 'old school' comedian Stan Boardman.

"It's pretty predictable really – let's put a lesbian in with the likes of Stan Boardman!" laughs Rhona.

"TV is very contrived, Americanised and homogeneous – if all the arts were newspapers, the television would be The Sun!

"But sometimes as an artist, unless you are incredibly established, you have to go along with things you don't necessarily agree with.

"I think the worst thing with Wife Swap is that they go all out to put people in a situation where they will feel disrespected and uncomfortable. But I was offered a lot of money and because I had tax to pay I took it, so that's my own fault.

"But it was very difficult to do that show. They were absolutely hoping that I would go into some kind or rage against Stan. They tried all the time – there's so much stuff you didn't see.

"The most difficult thing was the production company – not Stan Boardman. He was an OK bloke and quite funny at times," she shrugs. "I don't want to judge and slander people anymore.

"I'd really like not to do anything again that will compromise me and make me unhappy."

Throughout our interview, Rhona makes it clear that she has no bones to pick or chips on her shoulder.

The decisions she has made in her career – rightly or wrongly – have been hers alone.

But Rhona has taken time out and re-evaluated what's important.

She's able to laugh about her decisions, obviously feels more comfortable with who she is and what she wants, and is enjoying her creativity and the many doors that have opened up to her.

"I enjoy diversifying," concludes Rhona. "Comedians are storytellers, and I think we can tell those stories live, on screen and on page. That's a joy to me."

Rhona Cameron appears in Queer Fiction also featuring Stella Duffy, Paul Burston and Jack Wolf at the Arnolfini on Wednesday, August 18. Tickets cost £10 – call 0117 917 2300, and at Jester's Comedy Club at Metropolis on Thursday, August 19. Tickets cost £16 – call 0117 909 6655.