FROM Mother Kelly's Doorstep to a standing ovation from the Variety Club is quite an achievement, even if you are the one and only Danny La Rue.

But add to that fond messages from Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and special dinner guest Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, and it's enough to make anyone's mascara run.

And County Cork's favourite son barely had time to take his seat in the Blackpool's Spanish Hall on Friday (October 6) before the acknowledgements of a glittering career spanning 51 years began.

The Bop Company from the Opera House's Abbadabbadoo high-kicked off the proceedings with a leggy routine and then Jack Diamond launched into a wickedly witty charity auction with Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) and Roy Cropper (David Neilson) taking on most of the bidding with Roy bagging a trip on the Orient Express.

Liz said of her friend Danny: "He's a legend. He's brought so much happiness to people and raised so much money for charity." The Grumbleweed's Tony Jo read out messages from Shirley Bassey: "Shine like the star you are," and from Tom Jones: "I'd love to have been there but I'm working. It's not unusual."

Frank (Foo Foo) Lamarr moaned he'd been waiting 25 years for one of Danny fabulous frocks and praised him for giving class to their business.

And surprise guest Paul Burrell said: "This man is a consummate professional and a star in every sense of the word who has given me the great gift of friendship."

But it was John Inman who made the most touching speech to his dear friend, starting out with the delightful ditty: "I was born in a basket made of old tights, the station was Crewe, my father was a red-nosed comedian and my mother was Danny La Rue.

"I'm so proud to call him my friend," he added. "It's amazing to think he did all this in a frock. All his success stems from going to the shop for a loaf in his mother's shoes you know."

Danny himself answered with a lump in his throat and a tear in his eye and told how he would like to blame the Catholic Church for his long life in frocks, and how he missed his beloved partner Jack.

Event organiser Marina Efstathiou said: "Danny had a fabulous day and I would like to thank the whole team at Leisure Parcs for their wonderful organisation."

Pictured are John Inman, Danny La Rue, Frank Lamarr and Maxine Barrie at the Variety Club lunch.