RICHARD Digance spent five years touring with Jim Davidson – and is still recovering.

Mr Digance, now 62, had been minding his own business performing in folk clubs when the Cockney comic booked him as his support.

He thought it would be no different to opening for Steeleye Span, Jethro Tull, David Essex or Elkie Brooks. But he was wrong.

He said: "I'd never met Jim before. He just booked me. Suddenly I found myself in the Falklands. It was a bit of an eye-opener. It was nowhere like the Isle of Sheppey

"Jim loves everything about war. He is a walking encyclopaedia. He could win Mastermind. We ended up performing wherever there were troubles. And if there weren't any troubles, Jim would start them!

"It was the hairiest five years of my life. I never envisaged anything like it. I think he liked the fact I just turned up with my guitar. It was very cost-effective for him.

"One night we ended up performing to 30 blokes in a portable cabin on the Falklands."

But the exposure did wonders for Richard. TV producers took notice and suddenly he was given his own show.

He said: "It was very odd. I'd never even been on TV before but suddenly I had my own Saturday night show. It lasted 11 years. I was able to play with Brian May of Queen and Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of Status Quo. It was fabulous."

Then a new broom swept in and Richard found himself consigned to Countdown for nine years, which he loved, until he was axed from that, too.

He said: "TV is like football. New managers move in and bring their own players. Suddenly comics like Bobby Davro and Barry Cryer were on the scrapheap and the word 'variety' became covered in cobwebs.

"But I'm not complaining. Everyone has a shelf life."

He is currently celebrating his 40th year of touring, which is why he is visiting Whitstable's Playhouse Theatre on Monday.

He said: "I like what promoter Nick Wilty is doing. He is bringing big names like Harry Hill to small venues. In this economic climate we all have to be prepared to play smaller places. Although I am disgusted that some of the newer comics don't seem to want to tour.

"They are quite happy to play the O2 Arena and walk away with £2 million a night. That's not what comedy should be about. You shouldn't have to pay £50 a ticket.

"It's a disgrace when brilliant comedy acts like the Mr Timpkins Review don't get a look in. But perhaps I've said too much..."

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