The promoter, and regular compere, of the North-West's Buzz Clubs, Agraman 'the human anagram', came into comedy after being made redundant as a Daily Express journalist.

He started a folk club at the Malt Shovels pub in Altrincham, in 1986 and three years, and a new venue, later, he added comedy to the bill.

He introduced such act as Sean Hughes, Frank Skinner, Eddie Izzard and Peter Kay with a series of groan-inducing puns that have since become his trademark.

In 2004 he won the Les Dawson Award for Services to Comedy at the North West comedy awards.