2010 UK Tour Dates

Thursday 25th March- Ludlow Assembly Rooms (2 shows) Ludlow, SY8 1AZ * Box Office: 01584 878141

Friday 26th March- Swansea Grand , Swansea, SA1 3QJ * Box Office: 01792 475715

Sunday 28th March- Lichfield Garrick: Garrick Theatre, Lichfield, WS13 6HR * Box Office: 01543 412110 

Monday 29th March- Leamington Spa: Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, CV32 4HN, * Box Office: 01926 334418 

Thursday 1st April- Yeovil: Octagon, Hendford, Yeovil, BA20 1UX. * Box Office: 01935 422884 

Friday 2nd April- Swindon: Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon, SN1 1QN * Box Office : 01793 524481 

Thursday 8th April- Felixstowe: Spa Pavilion, Seafront. Felixstowe, IP11 2DX,UK * Box Office: 01394 282126 

Friday 30th April- Potters Bar: Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN * Box Office: 01707 645005 

Saturday 13 March - Wests Leagues Club, 88 Hobart Road, New Lambton. * Box office (02) 4935 1200

Thursday 18 March. The Illawara Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong , * Box Office Box (02) 4224 5999

Friday, 19 March - The Cube - Campbelltown Camden Rd, Campbelltown NSW * Box Office (02) 4625 0000

Sat 20th March - South Sydney Junior Rugby Club. 558a Anzac Parade, 2032 Kingsford, NSW

2 Shows 7pm and 9.30pm * Box office (02) 9349 7555

He walked on to the stage at Windsor’s Theatre Royal on Sunday evening as cool as a cucumber. Des O’Connor walked out cold into the spotlight. No warm up act, no fanfare, no music, Quietly and without introduction he took the mic and a near packed audience gave him the applause only a consummate artiste and firm family favourite entertainer would get – rapturous.

Des was his own warm up act and had the audience hotter than July by the time his 45 minute first half cracker of show was done for a quick libation.

You forget that Des, now in his 70s, is a class, polished act. When you see him on one of his great TV shows, you expect him to be slick and stylish.

But with an enviable quintet and a simple black, nightclub style stage backdrop, Des simply oozed charm and sophistication as first the jokes and anecdotes and then the songs came to the fore.

Wonderful reminiscences of how great entertainers are brought up in showbiz. How as a youngster he was the warm up for Buddy Holly, touring with the songster and giving the thumbs up to classic rock and roll numbers the Cricket was writing at the time and which have now gone down in musical history.

How he watched Frank Sinatra sneak in through the back door of a tiny club in Las Vegas before singing One More For The Road, a number Des brought to life in his own inimitable way.

How he and Tom Jones got along while both playing Las Vegas.

And talking about the many, many entertainers, both British and American, who have become household names after appearing on his illustrious TV show over the years.

Down to earth, no side, good looking and self deprecating, Des has got wit and charm in bundles.

Great numbers by some of the great song writers all fell under Des’ spell as mirth and music filled the theatre.

Cheeky, cheerful and just downright brilliant as an entertainer, Des, who only had to drive in from his home in Hedgerley, showed us all what a true gentleman of show business he is and why he is loved by so many.

He is still pulling them in, still has so much to give and leaves so many others in his wake.

A delightful night out and one I hope will be repeated.

Paul Thomas

 . CBE