THE trouble for John Inman is that Mr Humphries simply won't go away.

He managed at least not to shout "I'm free-e-e-e" in that inimitable manner but you can't divorce the man from the character.

Not that anyone at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool actually bothered about such things. The audience for the opening of the summer Comedy Bonanza show last week would have gladly shouted it for him had they been prompted.

They were happy just to see their home town star go through his camp act, including losing his trousers in true Brian (sorry Lord) Rix fashion.

This was good old fashioned farce and if it's your cup of tea then you'll love this knock-about rollicking performance which squeezes every last drop out of the Tetley bag.

Personally, I prefer something a little more sophisticated but you can't knock Blackpool summer shows because they haven't got je ne sais quoi. What they HAVE got is a winning formula which will almost certainly pull in the holiday crowds and that's what it's all about.

There's the Nolans, another Blackpool-based troupe, though they've changed a bit since their big-hit days. Now they've got daughters and cousins to give them a bit of "spice" if you know what I mean.

Jimmy Cricket has come all the way from Bally-Go-Backwards with his daft hats and wellies. His comedy hasn't changed much in 20 years or so but it does bring out a chuckle or two and at least it's all very clean fun, which frankly makes a change these days.

Kev Orkian, a late replacement for Bobby Crush, was a lively entertainer at the keyboard reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis.

But the chap who takes this show by the scruff of its neck is one Billy Pearce, who you may remember made his name on New Faces.

He may not exactly be new any more, but his patter is still fresh and he has a charm that is charismatic. He reminds me a bit of Max Wall in the way that he struts about the stage, gagging and repeating himself in an idiosyncratic way.

I'd go again to see Mr Pearce. I'm not so sure about the rest of the show.

Pictured here are John Inman (centre) and the rest of the cast.