FLICKY HARRISON catches up with Richard Digance about Elephant Man: The Musical and more

Musician and purveyor of comic songs, Richard Digance, has recently completed writing songs for Elephant Man The Musical which is destined for the West End of London.

He was asked because of his work on the music for Bill Bryson's audio book, The Road To Little Dribbling, but Richard diffidently says they had little choice - if they wanted an East End boy to write the music.

The musician said: "The story is set in London's East End. It was (elephant man) Joseph Merrick's choice to come from Leicester, it was his choice to make a living showing himself as a freak.

"I said the music had to reflect this, to be true to his real story, and the company said they wanted realism. So, I enjoyed researching it, the story is intriguing, and in two months I wrote 15 songs, I was even in my studio on Boxing Day.

"I saw the actual skeleton of the elephant man, which is in the medical research centre, not the plaster cast in the museum,'' he said.

The former Countdown poet will be bringing a barrel full of new material when he comes to Swindon as part of his 62nd British tour and his golden anniversary in showbiz.

"I will keep going until I get it right, '' he smiled.

The musician is no stranger to Swindon, in fact he is a patron of the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, along with local comedy poet Pam Ayres. He will be performing at the Old Town theatre on Friday, March 10 from 7.30pm.

Richard believes in giving a helping hand to newcomers in the business, and in Swindon his support slot will be The Broadside Boys.

He said: "My first tour in 1974 was with Steel Eye Span and after that Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson saw I was nervous of the big venues so he always introduced me himself - as his friend - and that took the pressure off, so I do the same.

"I do a twenty minute opener of new stuff, Brexit and Trump, and then The Broadside Boys perform. In the second half I recite my poems people will recognise from Countdown and sing songs from my time on TV,'' he said.

Richard will also be performing new songs from his Golden Anniversary album. Another plus, for Swindon fans, will be during the interval when Richard will come out into the foyer to mingle with the crowd.

"I'm too old to enjoy looking in that mirror with those lamps all round it,'' he said.

The musician has supported some big names during his career including Tom Jones.

"I opened for him 67 times, but I never met the man until the last night at the Albert Hall when I was standing in line waiting for the meet and greet with Prince William. Tom Jones thought I was selling the programmes.''

Richard became known on television for his Saturday Night specials and says that some of his favourite moments were chatting to his comedy hero Steve Martin about the banjo, playing a guitar duo with Brian May from Queen, performing with The Moody Blues and becoming an honourary member of Status Quo.

But television was never Richard's first love, he revels in stagecraft and the feedback from a live audience. Tickets for his Swindon gig are £15.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison