Des O'Connor

MICHAEL DRAKE

Norwich Theatre Royal

It's hard to remember a time when he wasn't entertaining us, whether singing, hosting his own talk show, just being a comedian, or currently, the host of the popular Countdown programme.

While wearing well, Des O'Connor has never become worn out, as he proved in the last evening in one of his live dates. In fact, his first live stand-up was at the “old” Theatre in 1980 and, as he said, he's “back by popular demand”.

The basis of this sort of show for O'Connor is simply chat - which although he may

have heard it many times before, he instantly turns

into an amusing line - and song. Not for him a number

of warm-up acts before the star appears for a relatively short time in the second half.

No, he did that bit as well, making it clear that he is still not quite reconciled to Morecambe and Wise and still hates Emu.

The singing voice is still there too - very pleasantly - and backed by the splendid five-piece band of Ray Monk and perhaps “nice 'n' easy” is the real root of his act.

After the interval it was songs, laced with reminiscences and jokes, all in that laid-back style.

And for the audience,

mostly of a “certain age”, there was much nostalgia along the way.

Des O'Connor continues to give thoroughly good, middle-of-the-road entertainment.