FUNNYMAN Stan Boardman looks back over his life and career in his first one-man show at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton next month.

The show, on Saturday May 16, features stand-up routines, archive clips, photographs from his childhood and a question and answer session with the audience.

The former welder and pipe fitter, who ran his own haulage business before hitting the comedy big-time in 1976, hopes the unscripted show will be a ‘unique and entertaining’ insight into his struggles and successes.

The Willaston-based star – who became a household name on 70's TV show The Comedians, joined fellow co-stars Roy Walker and Mick Miller for an "audience with .." show at the Floral Pavilion last year and admits to being a little nervous about his one-man trip down memory lane.

Stan told the Globe: "It's the first time I've done this sort of show on my own. Hopefully the audience will like it.

"It's a mix of comedy, archive footage and stories of all the people I’ve worked with. There are so many.

"I've worked with Des O'Connor and even the late Hollywood actor Oliver Reed.

"I was in awe of Morecambe & Wise and Norman Wisdom turned out to become a good friend of mine. Eric Morecambe was a real gentleman, he loved comedy.

"I was runner-up on Opportunity Knocks to Bernie Flint and now he's doing warm-ups on my shows."

BELOW: Eric Morecambe with Stan. Picture courtesy of Paul Boardman

Wirral Globe:

Wirral Globe:

ABOVE: Stan after handing over his 'Come Dine With Me' charity winnings to Claire House hospice in 2013

After coming out of National Service in 1961, he started a haulage business. But his entire life and career changed dramatically, almost overnight, in the summer of 1976.

Stan and the family were on holiday at a Butlin's holiday camp, when his children Andrea and Paul persuaded him to enter the weekly talent competition, just for fun.

He reluctantly agreed and for the first time in his life stood up on stage in front of a packed audience and entertained them with a hastily-memorised list of jokes.

His courage earned won first prize, a place in the Grand Final of a talent at the London Palladium.

His distinctive style of comedy and original material earned him a £1,000 first prize, a summer season engagement and the title Star Act Of The Year.

He continued: "This was a highlight for me, because I was still on the dole when I played the London Palladium.

"In those days we lived in a flat above a betting shop in Old Swan."

Stan has always been a regular on TV. Recent appearances include BBC's Can’t Cook Won’t Cook, Channel Four’s Kings of Comedy, Celebrity Wife Swap and Celebrity Coach Trip.

He also raised much-needed cash for Claire House after cooking up a traditional British favourite of fish and chips and winning the competition.

He has also presented awards during Wirral’s unsung heroes during Wirral Globe's Golden Globes awards ceremony.

On supporting the hospice, he said: “I’ve been involved with Claire House ever since they laid the first stone and I try to get to as many open days as I can.

"It is an amazing place and so important for families who are dealing with traumatic experiences.

"The nurses and all the staff there are amazing and are a credit to Wirral.”

But, as is the case with so many comics, among the laughter lies tragedy.

Stan is no different.

His brother Tommy was killed, aged nine, during a bombing raid in Liverpool during the Second World War.

Stan recalled: “I didn’t really know much about it, found out from my mum later.

“Mary Monroe was our babysitter and had hold of me during the bombing and saved my life. She was only 14. I’ve got so much to thank her for.”

Tickets for his Floral Pavilion show, which starts at 7.30pm, are from the box office on 0151 666 0000.