Entertainer Stu Francis was enjoying a day off and taking the opportunity to watch his beloved Bolton Wanderers play.

As his work takes him around the country, he finds it difficult to keep up with his home town team.

"I still have my season ticket," he says. "Last season wasn't so bad but this season I've already missed seven home games. So it makes the matches I do go to very expensive."

Former Crackerjack comedy star Francis may no longer be a familiar face on TV and it may be 30 years since he was voted comedian of the year by The Stage newspaper, but he's still busy enough.

His schedule involves not one, but two dates at Billingham Forum. On Monday, he comperes an afternoon Celebrity Showtime, featuring The Bachelors and Susan Maughan. This variety show played a Blackpool summer season last year and is embarking now on a theatre tour.

He's only ever appeared at the theatre for one night only many years ago. But he'll be back in Billingham in a few months to star in the Christmas pantomime, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

Francis will be playing the comically-confused Muddles, the sort of role he's destined to continue playing. "They won't let me be anything else. I'm too small for the Prince," he says.

He's been appearing in panto "man and boy" for as long as he can remember. As a child, he went to see these seasonal shows like any other kid and now genuinely enjoys appearing in them every year.

"Firstly, it gives you a chance to settle into one place and, secondly, pantomime is true theatre. It's something for the whole family. There are shows for adults and shows for kids, but, apart from panto, nothing for all the family," says Francis.

He began his showbiz career as a comedian in the holiday camps before moving into cabaret clubs, theatre and television. These days, he's a panto regular who spends the rest of the year performing in cabaret, on cruise ships and in theatres in summer shows.

With TV turning its back on variety - a complaint often voiced by the old-style comics - Francis is back where he started, doing live work.

A lot of his time has been spent performing in the North, including panto in Newcastle and Darlington in recent years, but he plays all over the country and sometimes at sea. This may sound like one long holiday but he points out that "when you're on the cruise ships you're in a different frame of mind than when you're on holiday. You still have to work. You're there to do a job".

The posters still attach his "Crush a grape" catchphrase to his name, although many of the youngsters who see panto are too young to remember him using it.

"It's amazing, you can pick out the age group who recognise it. Kids today just think, 'This character is odd' and wonder what the hell I'm on about. The 25 and upwards group know exactly what I'm talking about," he says.

He hasn't done any straight theatre, where comedians often find themselves in later years, but that's not to say he hasn't thought about it.

"I suppose I might have a go at sitcom. It's suggested now and again but I don't go chasing it. I don't get obsessed with it, I just go with the flow. If you don't build any castles, you won't be disappointed," he says.

* Celebrity Showtime is at Billingham Forum on Monday at 2.30pm. Stu Francis also stars in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs at the Forum from December 9 to January 9. Tickets (01642) 552663.

Published: 25/09/2004