WHEN Danny Baker played in Leeds at the start of his first tour his show lasted a fairly standard 90 minutes. As it progressed its duration grew to the point that those in attendance began joking they'd been short changed.

On Sunday, Baker returned and promised to make up for it and duly delivered more than four hours of uproarious stories from his life that would have had Doddy himself nodding in appreciation.

Last tour, Baker barely scratched the surface and by show's end had not even left school. This visit, billed as 'Good Time Charlie's Back', he refreshed our memories a little before moving into his post school life.

Leaving school at 14, he recounted his first job working at the infamous One Stop Records where pop royalty like Elton John and Mick Jagger did their record shopping; his move to the New Musical Express where his initial role as receptionist quickly morphed into globe trotting journalist; and from there to the start of his TV career.

A mix of unshakeable self-belief, a willingness to the roll the dice and see what happens and, as he confesses, the sheer dumb luck that seems to have followed him and at crisis points, tapped him on the shoulder and pointed him towards his next adventure means that the treasure trove of material at his disposal is vast.

I urge you to experience this force of nature yourself when he appears at Durham's Gala Theatre on 11 October where a few tickets remain. Sandwiches and flask of tea optional.

Dave Lawrence