...and he's going on tour in 2018

The BBC has commissioned two more episodes of Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show.

One will be a Christmas special, the other a special 50th episode to air next year.

The news comes as Steve Delaney’s befuddled alter-ego also announces a 44-date tour for next spring.

Alive & Unplugged will be a solo show – without his usual sidekicks of Malcolm (Terry Kilkelly) and Alan (Dave Plimmer).

Blurb for the show says: ‘He will be delving into his own personal box of video cassettes and talking us through the highlights of his glittering TV career, with many of his trademark stories we’ve come to love him for.’

His tour kicks off in Crewe on April 12 and ends in Stockport on June 23 (full dates). Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow.

The radio shows will be recorded at a sold-out gig at the Lowry in Salford on Monday.

Count Arthur’s show first aired on Radio 4 in 2005 and ran for seven series until 2012 when the Count transferred to TV. The third and final series of the sitcom ran on BBC One in May and June this year.

However, the washed-up variety star has continued to make Christmas episodes for the past three years, with two shows commissioned in 2016.

Count Arthur will also be appearing in pantomime this Christmas, playing the Count Of Peking in Aladdin at the Richmond Theatre in London.

He will be appearing alongside panto legend Christopher Biggins, Fascinating Aïda star Issy Van Randwyck and comedian Rikki Jay in the show, which runs from  December 9 to January 14. Tickets 

Published: 9 Nov 2017