Jan Thom

jan.thom@KRNmedia.co.uk

NOT many entertainers would claim children's favourites Sesame Street and the Muppets as early career influences.

But top comedy ventriloquist Paul Zerdin unashamedly confesses his passion for the gaping-mouthed, shabby and downright eccentric characters that rocked through the 1980s.

And it's to the king of ventriloquists, the late lamented Ray Allen, and his snooty doll Lord Charles, that Paul owes his greatest debt of gratitude.

He said: "I was given a book on ventriloquism by Ray Allen when I was 15.

"His teaching was the best in the world, and if you learn with the best you get a good start."

Now, with Paul's career in the ascendant, there's a chance to check out his Sponge Fest on tour show at The Gulbenkian, Canterbury on Wednesday, September 22.

It's the opening leg of a busy tour and the first time Paul has headlined. He has previously supported luminaries such as Norman Wisdom and Joe Pasquale.

A previous winner of ITV's nationwide The Big Talent Show, Paul has been a regular on the Royal Variety Show and on ITV's Tonight at the London Palladium with Bruce Forsyth.

Paul shares the stage with a very knowing Baby, troublesome Sam and cussed pensioner Albert.

The trio are spookily lifelike, each with acutely defined personalities. Yet their characters are constantly evolving, like old Albert, who mistakenly takes Viagra.

It may be wise not to take a front row seat if you want to avoid frisky Albert's advances, and danger may lurk too if Baby spots an ample bosom in the audience and bids to latch on.

Paul said: "My role is to rein them all back."

The grief he gets from the characters is reason enough for Paul not to expand his cast, although he is pensively working on two possible new additions.

He revealed: "I don't want too many puppets, I'd rather have three well-defined characters that will grow."

Paul's basic ideas are turned into scripts with the help of two writers, and he is collaborating with ITV for a show next year.

He will also take to the stage in a different role this winter when he plays Aladdin at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

Paul Zerdin is at the Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, on Wednesday, September 22. Tickets cost £12 or £9 for students. For more information, visit www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian or call 01227 769075.