E ARL Okin is adamant. "I am a musical genius and a sex symbol," he insisted.

"It must be true because it says so on my CD and that is how I am always introduced on stage."

The fact that he is 64, wears glasses and is still waiting for his "big break" won't shake him.

Meanwhile, Richard Digance is that cheeky chappy from the folk circuit who ended up with his own TV show and toured with Jim Davidson.

They are both musicians and both make their living by being funny. Both have been booked by Whitstable comedian Nick Wilty for his next Oy Oyster comedy night at the town's Playhouse Theatre on Monday December 5.

Earl, who was among the first 500 students when the University of Kent opened its doors at Canterbury, insists: "We may both have guitars and tell jokes but we are as different as chalk and cheese."

He has just returned from a tour of Australia, Germany and the Czech Republic and next year will be flying off to Australia.

He admits he never set out to become a comedian.

He said: "My first love has always been music. I am told my first performance was in my cot when I was just months old and long before I could talk.

"I get my love of music from my mother, whose family included concert singers, and my comedy from my father who ran a variety show in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

"I think I am a throw-back to the days of variety but audiences seem to love it. I do many university shows and have been back to play the Gulbenkian Theatre at the University of Kent.

"But I am still waiting for my big break. I have always been the wrong age to get on telly. When I was 12 they said I was too young and now they say I am too old.

"I may be 64 but I am going on 25. It is not getting old which is the problem, it's losing your health."

He refuses to give up and signed his first recording deal three years ago. This year he signed his first publishing deal.

He fell into comedy by accident. He had been happily performing in jazz clubs when he bumped into Nigel Planer, who suggested Earl try out his brand of humour in a comedy club and soon Earl was performing to a crowd of six alongside French and Saunders and Rik Mayall.

As folk clubs began to replaced by comedy clubs, Earl switched his act. But he still looks back fondly to his three years studying philosophy at the University of Kent.

He said: "I couldn't ride a bike because I have problems with my ears so I went everywhere on a racing tricycle with 26-inch wheels. It was great until I encountered the reverse camber on St Stephen's Hill late at night going at 60mph. I had to lean over to keep the trike on the road. I would go to The Foundry run by a bearded Liberal Democrat where all meals were half-a-crown (22.5p). Yes. I have quite a soft spot for east Kent."

Richard Digance and Earl Okin, Whitstable Playhouse, Monday, December 5 at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £14 from www.playhousewhitstable.co.uk or call 01227 272042.