CURTAIN CALL

This week, JEFFREY DAVIES looks back at another of his favourite interviewees, the versatile Wiltshire-born actor, comedian and singer Michael Crawford

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MICHAEL Crawford CBE is an English actor, singer and comedian known for his diverse career which has spanned stage, radio, television and film. Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1942, he is best-known for playing the hapless Frank Spencer in the top 1970s TV sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em; the title role in Barnum; Cornelius Hackl in the film musical Hello, Dolly! and as the first and "definitive phantom" in Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenally successful musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Michael's many other performance credits too many to list here - include Condorman, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, How I Won the War, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Knack...and How to Get It.

The engaging, award-winning star was invited to Bristol almost a decade ago to receive the most prestigious and much-coveted 2016 Aardman Slapstick Award for Visual Comedy Excellence.

The Slapstick Festival is an annual celebration of silent, visual and classic film comedy held every year in Bristol.

Following what was a thoroughly enjoyable, revealing, informative, funny and entertaining afternoon of stories and anecdotes in which the highly likeable showbusiness legend talked so passionately about his life and his glittering career, I caught up with Michael for a quick chat before he made his exit from what was - a few minutes earlier - a full-to-capacity St George's venue...

INTERNATIONAL stage, screen and recording star Michael Crawford has been in Bristol to receive the 2016 Aardman Slapstick Award for Visual Comedy Excellence. The 74-year-old comedy legend entertained and enthralled his packed-to-capacity audience at St George's, Brandon Hill, with countless stories and numerous anecdotes about his illustrious career, as well as with film and TV clips highlighting his flair and daring as a physical comedian.