EVEN for Rolf Harris, tonight will be an unusual Saturday night out. For the much-loved entertainer and artist will be sharing a stage with no less than 14 Elvis impersonators.

"It's certainly going to be different," he chuckled.

One Night of Elvis - Return to Memphis is the culmination of a nationwide search to find the best tribute to Elvis Presley, and tonight's winner will be taken to Memphis, home of the King.

For Rolf, it will be an opportunity to unveil his latest painting - Blue Elvis - which captures the legendary performer at the height of his powers.

But surprisingly Rolf isn't a big Elvis fan.

"Actually no, I never was," he said.

"I really admired his performance and his enormous charisma but I was never a great fan of his music.

"My wife and daughter on the other hand are big fans. I think my daughter did all her homework listening to his records."

So how did a self-confessed non Elvis fan end up surrounded by men who would be King?

"Well that's all the fault of my didgeridoo player," said Rolf matter-of factly.

"He's always been a massive fan and in conversation he mentioned that this year would be 30 years since Elvis died.

"I couldn't believe that, where does the time go? This got me thinking about painting a portrait of Elvis that captured the classic look with his white jumpsuit and clenched fist."

Having decided to paint a portrait, Rolf then had to find photographs to work from.

"I actually find it easier to work off a photograph," he said. "The subject keeps still for a start! Usually I will try and take my own pictures of a person so that I can capture just the right image.

"With Elvis there was a little more pressure because he is such an iconic figure and I had to get the pose just right because everyone would know if I hadn't captured the spirit of the man."

Rolf spent a month working on the portrait which will form the backdrop for the One Night of Elvis show.

"Apparently it's been blown up to over two-and-a-half metres square. It will be thrilling to see it up there on stage."

The original Blue Elvis will be unveiled to the public during the show and then go on display at a London gallery and a number of limited edition prints are also being produced.

Having spent over 50 years in the public eye Rolf Harris is known to the public for a variety of different things from his hit records such as Two Little Boys and Jake the Peg, as an entertainer, presenter and most recently an artist.

However, when I tell him that to me, I always associate him with a series of programmes shown on TV teaching youngsters to swim he is genuinely surprised.

"You must be older than you sound," he joked. "Actually that is one of the great regrets of my life. When I did those learn to swim programmes I didn't know anything about TV."

As a champion junior swimmer, Rolf was ideally qualified to encourage youngsters overcome their feature of the water "I only did five shows and they were only 15 minutes each and after they had been broadcast they were wiped. They were only ever shown once.

"I really wish I'd had the sense to get them off the TV company as they could have been shown every year - they are still relevant today."

Having achieved so much in his career - including having the Queen sit for a portrait to celebrate her 80th birthday - I wondered if Rolf was proud of his many talents.

His answer is typically modest.

"Well I don't think what you do is something to brag about," he said. "I am just so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to achieve so much. It's very nice to be able to just get up there and entertain people."

Tonight Rolf intends to do just that, but he believes the real stars of the show will be the Elvis impersonators.

"These guys are amazing performers," he said. "They are really good. I saw one of the heats for the show in High Wycombe and I didn't know what to expect but they really got the audience going."

One Night of Elvis is at the Opera House in Blackpool tonight. For details, contact the box office on 01253 0870 380 1111.