TOP television comedian Jimmy Tarbuck is set to swap The London Palladium for the Assembly Hall at Melksham next month for his first ever gig in the town.

Tarby, as he is known to millions of TV viewers, will be performing on Thursday, June 2 as part of a national tour encompassing 14 other venues up and down the country.

With a career spanning 40 years, he will be sharing anecdotes, demonstrating his quickfire wit and says he only decided to come to the venue on the recommendation of friend Des O'Connor.

Mr Tarbuck, 76, said: “I am coming to Melksham with the recommendation of Des O’Connor. He said it is a great gig and the audience is fantastic.

“If a fellow professional tells you that you should go then you should follow his advice. I just like working and I was sat there with Des and he just said go along so I decided to go.

“I am just going to go along and talk about my career and how it has lasted so long. I do not know how it has lasted but I am grateful it has.

“To think that I started on the Palladiums and I still enjoy it, of course, but the travelling is slightly annoying now.”

Tarby will be using photos and video footage to take audiences on a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a wealth of funny stories and anecdotes ranging from being at school with John Lennon, to playing golf with Bing Crosby.

The Liverpool-born comic and entertainer became the resident compere of Sunday Night at the London Palladium in September 1965, aged just 25 years old.

During the 1970s and 80s, he was rarely off the screen as programmes such as The Jimmy Tarbuck Show and Winner Takes All attracted millions of TV viewers each week.

“I will be doing some videos, a Q&A section and just trying to make sure that the audience enjoy themselves," he said.

“There are no plans to retire just yet. I will only stop if I cannot cut it anymore. If you are still enjoying it then why stop?

“My career has been amazing and has taken me to some of the most glamorous places around the world. From the White House to number 10 Downing Street.

“It has been wonderful and now I will be playing in Melksham Assembly Hall.”