ONE of the biggest fears when meeting a comedian is that any illusion you may have about them being warm, friendly and, indeed, funny, may be shattered when you come face-to-face in a tiny room.

That's the thing with comedians. People feel somehow close to them, like they know them, as laughter is a very personal experience. But an on-stage persona could be a whole different ball game to the real man or woman who sits in front of you, sick to death of countless interviews.

I should have had no such fears as I was ushered into a room with Midlands legend Jasper Carrott.

We immediately began chatting about everything - from his new show, Rock With Laughter, to his honorary MA from the University of Worcester.

Jasper's friendly and honest enthusiasm was evident on his famous rubbery face from the outset and never faltered whatever the subject. He promised this enthusiasm was present in bucketloads at his new show at Birmingham's NEC.

Rock With Laughter appears to be a kind of variety show with music, dancing, comedy and compre Jasper.

But the funnyman said he disliked that tag and explained how the concept came about.

"Since 1993, I have done five shows called Jasper Carrott's Christmas Cracker for charity.

"The audience had no idea who was coming on each night, it was a genuine surprise and it worked really well as there would be such a variety of guests from Roger Daltry to Victoria Beckham to Jethro.

"It was a lot of work to do more than once every four years but people loved it so we decided to do a commercial version where we pay the acts rather than do it for charity, and that's where Rock With Laughter came from.

"It's great because no one ever thinks an act is too long, only too short. They get 20 minutes of River Dance followed by 20 minutes of singing, then some comedy.

"I compre in between, like a serene duck floating on the surface - but my legs are going like mad underneath!"

The show has already been extended from two to four days to cope with ticket sales. Jasper and acts including G4, Bonnie Tyler, Lenny Henry, Riverdance and the Bootleg Beatles will now play in front of 48,000 people in all.

The father of three, who lives just outside Solihull, has had to share some of the limelight within his family over the past few years. His daughter - Lucy Davies - took the country by storm as one of the stars of hit comedy The Office. And now she has gone to Hollywood to become a mainstream actress.

A smiling Jasper commented: "We are all so proud of Lucy. She is living her dream - to become an actress.

"We always said I would advise her, but she wanted no leg-ups in the industry. She has done it on her own."

The 60-year-old has become close to the nation's hearts over the years and the Birmingham-born comedian's latest honour is linked with Worcester itself.

Jasper visited the Cathedral this week to collect a Master of Arts degree from the city's university in celebration of it gaining university status.

"Worcester is a fabulous city and I am thrilled to receive this honour - I think I deserve it, though, don't you?"

l Rock With Laughter runs from November 10 to 13 and tickets cost £27.50 and £22.50.