"MORECAMBE? That name rings a bell. I'm sure I've come across Morecambe before..."

Des O'Connor is only teasing.

He knows full well how Morecambe – or more precisely, ERIC Morecambe – fits into his amazing showbiz legacy.

And what a legacy it is. The only UK entertainer to have hosted a mainstream TV show for 45 consecutive years, the face of classics such as 'Des O'Connor Tonight', ' The Des and Mel Show', 'Take Your Pick' and 'Countdown', Des is the housewives' favourite, a true icon of British entertainment.

Apart from these achievements, O'Connor is also known as the man who was the constant butt of Eric Morecambe's jokes. And he couldn't be happier about it.

Hardly a Morecambe and Wise show went by in the 70s and 80s without Eric poking fun at Des and his singing, even though Des was actually a successful recording artist.

Seven Top 30 hits including a 1968 number one with 'I Pretend' – that's not too shabby at all.

Even so, Eric and Ernie Wise ripped into Des without mercy.

"If you want me to be a goner, get me an LP by Des O'Connor!" joked Eric during a classic sketch when Eric and Ernie failed to realise the man himself was standing right behind them ("wearing an awful jacket!" recalls Des.)

It was the 1975 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show and Des remembers like it was yesterday.

"Eric would like to plan everything, letter by letter, word by word. But when I was on his show, there was a lot of ad-libbing going on. We had such fun. It was wonderful, a great show.

"Eric and I were friends. When I was a complete unknown, Eric and Ernie were stars and I was on theatre shows with them. They would give me tips.

"One day I told Eric I'd like to be an international star. He replied: 'Well, I'd like to have an affair with Brigitte Bardot!' He always had an answer!

"Then I went to see their show at the BBC and they did a joke about me. 'Great news – Des O'Connor has a sore throat'. They knew I was there. And then it took off. Fourteen years, it went on! I think the public knew it was a bit of fun."

No doubt Des will have a few other anecdotes about his old pal when he appears on stage at the Grand. He says there will be plenty of banter and audience participation in the first-half of the show. And then in the second-half, his band arrives, Des puts on his tuxedo and...yes!...he starts to sing!

Des's easy charm, self-deprecation and likeability should ensure a fabulous night for O'Connor fans.

"It's more like a party...if someone wants to come on stage and play piano they can," he says.

"I ask people about their personal problems and you'd be surprised what they tell me! I think people see me as one of the family."

Little wonder, because Des has been a mainstay on our TV screens for over four decades. Perhaps his biggest success was as the host of ITV's 'Des O'Connor Tonight' for 25 years.

Des had some memorable encounters on the show, like when an inebriated Oliver Reed tried to expose himself ("Have you ever tried interviewing someone who's lying face down on the carpet?") and when Stan Boardman cracked his infamous rude joke about Fokker aircraft – which got the Liverpool comic banned from ITV!

"He just told me 'I've got this story about German aeroplanes'. Luckily I got the abbreviated version!"

Despite the Boardman controversy, Des says he generally loved interviewing comedians.

"I took a lot of pride in having conversations with Joe Pasquale, Frank Skinner, Paul O'Grady, Les Dawson...

"The secret of good TV is to enjoy it and then the public will enjoy it with you." So Des is proud to be part of the Grand Theatre's Comedy Week, even though some of the other acts appearing at the venue this week – like Jim Davidson and Roy 'Chubby' Brown (who performs tonight – 48 hours before O'Connor) are his polar opposite.

"I never criticise other comedians," says Des.

"OK, some of them use language that I don't think they need to. I think affection is more important than admiration. If you get someone to like you and there's that warmth coming through, that's the essence of comedy. Tommy Cooper never swore.

"But that's just my choice. The scene has changed. I plied my trade in theatres but every night is an opening night in a comedy club."
Life has also changed for four times-married Des.

He's taking a break from TV to return to his first love of the theatre, meaning he can now spend more time topping up his amazing tan ("What's the secret of my tan? It's called sitting in the sun!") and also relax with his stunning wife Jodie and their five-year-old son Adam - who Des says helps keep him looking so young at the age of 77!

"He's just started school and he's loving it...it's fantastic," said Des with pride. "I'm reasonably fit for someone of my maturity and now I have even more reason to take care of myself."

What a legend. Surely this man deserves a knighthood? "Oh no, I can't answer that. I was delighted to get a CBE. 'Cute But Entertaining', it stands for!"