A late bloomer; It took Chesney Hawkes and Eddie Izzard to put Terry Alderton where he is today, the comedian tells Dave Freak.

Byline: Dave Freak

TERRY Alderton has been performing on the stand-up circuit for nearly 20 years so it's surprising that the Perrier Award-nominated comedian has only now decided to tour.

"People have been saying for years I should do it," he says of his decision to perform a full touring solo show.

"What convinced me was when Eddie Izzard was in the dressing room after I'd been on stage at a comedy club and just said, 'You've got to go out on tour'.

"So I thought I should just get out and do it because, as he pointed out, you can't just keep doing that in comedy clubs - going down a storm."

Alderton, pictured, is actually a man of many talents. He confesses to being the class clown at school, where he discovered a talent for impersonations, but he initially believed he was destined for a blistering career in football.

"After leaving school I wanted to play football as I had been playing as a goalkeeper for Southend's youth team," he reveals.

"Although I had offers from QPR and others I wanted to stay at 'The Shrimpers', which I did until they sent me the letter saying, 'Sorry, but you're rubbish'.

"I think it may have been the final straw for them when I made a great save only to concede a free kick due to the fact I did a Michael Jackson moon-walk whilst still holding on to the ball and took it outside the goal area."

A succession of menial jobs followed until, aged 18, he made his stand-up debut at a Southend comedy club. From there he entered Sky's Star Search, eventually beating future chart-topper Chesney Hawkes to win the series.

From Sky's pre-X Factor talent show, Alderton took to the London comedy circuit before progressing into acting (appearing in London's Burning, Holby City and Waking The Dead) and radio and TV presenting (including the National Lottery Show).

"Comedy and acting I enjoy most," he reckons, citing such influences as The Goons, Hancock, Larry David, Max Miller, Steve Martin and Dave Allen.

"I was rubbish at football.

I played at a high standard, but I was still poor. I like TV presenting, but have never found the right vehicle - radio's the same - but the thing I like the most is playing characters, inventing them and making them come to life.

"I'm like a ventriloquist without a puppet."

Prior to making his much anticipated touring debut, Alderton completed filming on The Flirting Club. Described as a male Bridget Jones or a British American Pie, the comedy romp has been directed by Alex Jovy, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated short, Holiday Romance.

The film stars two former Miss Wales winners - Sophia Cahill and Amy Guy - and although he has been involved with the project for a long time he has no idea how the finished product has turned out.

"I was approached two years ago by Alex to play the part of Gordon in it but the budget fell out of the film," says Alderton.

"Then at the end of last year it came back again though with Alex funding it himself.

"He asked me to play the same part again but this time with a twist; the character was now to be German and called Wankle Winkelman.

And the rest is history.

"I had a lot of fun playing the part of a man who is not sure of his sexuality."

Thankfully, Alderton is a man sure of his comedy material.

Terry Alderton performs at The Glee Club in Cardiff on Thursday. Tickets are pounds 6-pounds 9.50 from 0871 472 0400