The Adver chats to Sooty and Richard Cadell before their performance in Oxford.

Q You’re currently touring the country with Sooty, who many viewers will know from TV. What can audiences expect from the live show?

It's everything you'd expect from a Sooty show - magic, music and mayhem! It's all about Sooty's birthday and the gang are desperately trying to get everything ready in time. Inevitably, things don't go according to plan, and when the ingredients for the cake are unleashed, things get a little bit messy!

Q Do you prefer working with a live audience or on TV sets?

Making the TV shows is great fun, but you can't beat the reaction you get from a live audience. Working on stage, there's a chance for some interaction and for the whole family to get involved, and I think it's important to make sure the adults enjoy the show as much as the children do. You get so much more of a buzz performing in front of a live audience - it's quite exhilarating, really! Sooty has been a staple of kids’ TV for over 60 years. How do you feel about continuing the legacy of such a well-known and well-loved character?

I think I'm quite in awe about the whole thing and, obviously, I'm hugely proud to be the man who looks after Sooty. Everyone who works on the show is passionate and enthusiastic and totally devoted to preserving this little bear's legacy, and I'm sure Sooty will go on to entertain children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for many more years to come! Have you always wanted to go into children’s entertainment?

I've been involved in children's entertainment for as long as I can remember - in fact I had my own Punch and Judy show when I was still a child myself! So yes, it's something I've always been passionate about, and I enjoy it a great deal. I feel a little trepidation when I see the dreaded custard pies approaching, but it's an occupational hazard and I'm quite used to it by now!

Q What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is that I get to work with Sooty! It's an absolute dream come true for me and I couldn't ask for anything more. It's also great to meet people from all walks of life who come up to me after the live shows and share their own childhood memories of Sooty - most of them have children themselves now! It's an honour to see how this little bear has entertained so many people for so many years, and I'm immensely proud to be a part of it.

IZZY wizzy let’s get busy – Sooty joined by his canine chum Sweep, panda friend Soo and host Richard Cadell are bringing The Sooty Show Live to New Theatre Oxford on February 17, 2015 (11am and 2.30pm). Celebrating his 65th year in show business Sooty, the nation’s favourite bear will be embarking on a UK tour in 2014.

Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty and the gang star in a new stage show which will see them get caught up in a wonderful world of magic, mischief and mayhem. Whether it’s children discovering the characters for the first time or adults enjoying the nostalgic experience with their little ones, The Sooty Show Live is for the whole family. With all the charm that Sooty fans, young and old have come to expect, this is a show that captivates its audience.

Sooty said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting Sooty fans old and new – and I can’t wait to squirt the Mums and Dads with my water pistol!”