'I'd say, 'I'm in your hands, God. And I'd rather not leave the party because I've got things I'd like to do'

Comic Milton on cancer battle

- BY GEORGE SIMPSON Film and TV Editor

MILTON JONES, the one-liner comedian and Mock the Week panellist, found out in April he had prostate cancer just as he was embarking on his latest tour.

He had to postpone for surgery but in August he announced he was cancer-free and resuming shows in the autumn.

The Daily Express sat down with the youthful-looking 61-year-old to talk about his comedy career and how his Christian faith and sense of humour helped him through cancer's darkest days and a dangerous second illness.

When did you realise you were funny?

I bumped into someone in the street recently from primary school who said, “You didn't say much; but when you did it was quite funny”. I wasn't aware of that at the time. I was aware of being quite timid and not saying much.

I wanted to be an actor because comedians when I was growing up were more like big guys with bow ties who told mother-in-law jokes. I turned to stand-up because I reckoned I could get producers and directors to come and see me perform,

I literally didn't have anything else I could do. It wasn’t until I sort of stuck my hair up and wore a silly jumper that it began to work. That was 30-35 years ago and I'm still trying to become an actor.

How did one-liners become your thing?

Looking back, I was so terrified I needed to get to the joke as quickly as possible so that the people would laugh. I found myself writing jokes and crossing one or two words out to make it even smaller.