VETERAN funnyman Tom O'Connor returns to the Gladstone Theatre later this month as the opening act of the Port Sunlight venue's new season.

The Liverpool-born entertainer will take to the stage for his Audience with... show on Friday, August 29.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to returning to The Gladstone, one of my favourite theatres throughout the UK.

"It's always guaranteed to be a great night. It will be nice to see old friends and make some new ones".

Professionally Tom started life as a maths and music teacher in Liverpool, whilst appearing as a comedian after work in working men's clubs. His TV break came in The Comedians Show. In the 1970s and 80s he hosted many TV quiz shows.

He won three separate shows of Opportunity Knocks and within a year had his own series, Wednesday At Eight, on Thames Television and was a regular on 70s show The Comedians.

He was also invited to appear on the Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium and in 1977 was the subject of This Is Your Life. He made his acting debut as Father Tom in BBC daytime series Doctors.

In 2010 he won Celebrity Come Dine With Me scoring a record breaking 29 points out of 30.

Last year on a celebrity edition of Pointless, with daughter-in-law Denise Lewis, Tom reached the final.

Away from television, Tom has appeared on stages across the world. He also played at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. He has also written a number of humorous books on golf.

Looking back on his career the 74-year-old said recently: "At the time I was teaching I was doing two comedy shows a week. In the last week I taught I got £68, but £1000 entertaining.

"So, I decided that a career in entertainment was for me. When I started out I said I’d give it a year. Thankfully, I’m still here so must be doing something right."

Tickets are selling fast and can be obtained by contacting the Theatre Box Office on 0151 643 8757 or www.gladstonetheatre.org.uk