When I was a little boy, about 8 I think, my mum and dad and I, went to see Des O’Conner at the Palladium. He started to tell a joke,”Is anything worn under a Scotsman’s kilt ?”

Now, several weeks before we’d been to Leeds City Varieties and a comic there had told a joke with the same first line. Caught up in the moment, I shouted out at the top of my voice,”A JOCKSTRAP !” The entire audience fell about laughing including Des,who then proceeded to

refer everything to me for the rest of his act, which the audience loved. At the end of the show an usher came and asked us if we’d like to come and meet Des and we were taken to his dressing room. He was the loveliest, kindest man. Chatted away, gave me autographed photos,

and a fiver (a huge amount of money for a small boy in the 70’s) for what he called,”20 minutes of additional material” RIP Des, a truly lovely man. And Des’ punchline, which he eventually managed to get out ?
“No, it’s all in perfect working order !”