Whilst this site mainly covers film, television and sometimes theatre. it also likes to expand from time to time and take into account great looking books- especially if the subject of the book is someone who makes me laugh and has done for years. So this fits perfectly with the awesome Bernie Clifton who has been a face and name Ive known (on screen) for decades. Bernie has been busy working on his autobiography and is now out by Bannister Publishing.

BERNIE CLIFTON: CRACKERJACK TO VEGAS will tell us the stories how one of Britain’s most original and cherished comedians and how he went from failed plumber to reducing the late Queen to tears of laughter, and his showbiz journey from Crackerjack regular to Vegas star whilst playing trombone for the England World Cup football band.

From growing up in wartime St. Helens Bernie takes us on his hilarious (and sometimes tragic) journey from teenage singer with a local dance band to The Palladium, standing ovations in Las Vegas and the London Marathon on the back of an Ostrich ( I loved it when he was with the Ostrich!!)

With tributes from Johnny Vegas, Sue Pollard, Anita Dobson, Joe Pasquale and Jimmy Cricket, BERNIE CLIFTON: CRACKJACK TO VEGAS is a fascinating and deeply personal account of an eight-decade journey of one of Britain’s most cherished entertainers. He doubts he’ll write a sequel.

Bernie commentated: “Write a sequel? Me? I’m 87, I’m not even buying green bananas!

Orders: https://www.bannisterpublications.com/product-page/crackerjack-to-vegas

Bernie very kindly took some time out to answer a few questions. Check out the questions and more importantly, Bernie’s answers.

When did you start writing the book and what inspired you to do so?

I started writing probably 15 years ago. I felt I had to. it’s just that my story has had so many twists and turns it needed a definitive commentary that only I could deliver.

You’ve had a very varied career, spanning so many different genres. What would you say is your favourite discipline?

My favourite discipline has to be performing in Variety Theatre. As a teenager I loved watching the Variety Shows at the Theatre Royal in St. Helens, (which was at the bottom of our Street). Barry Cryer once said I’d spun off the ‘Time Warp’ a generation too late, he meant that in essence I was a ‘Variety’ performer, but by the time I’d got my act together, in my early 20’s, the Variety Theatre circuit had disappeared to be replaced by the Social Clubs, so I became a Club Act.

How did you get started in showbiz?

I got started in Showbiz as a singer with the Band at the Co-op Ballroom. During the day I was an apprentice Plumber for the local Council and working in Bathrooms (great acoustics) helped to enhance my vocals. The resident Band Singer was called up to do his National Service, I saw my chance and asked for an audition. I’ll never forget the first time I stood up to sing. It was a Foxtrot and the song was ‘Love is a Many Splendoured Thing’.

I was living the dream, on Saturday afternoons I was playing left wing for the ‘Saints’ Junior Rugby B Team and a few hours later I’d be singing my heart out in front of hundreds of my fellow teenagers.

What inspired you to create Oswald The Ostrich?

The Ostrich…I’d graduated from being ‘just a singer’ to a Comedy/Vocal’ Act using a few small props. Following advice from Les Dawson in 1972, (he told me “Do your own thing, if you like working with props become a prop Comic”), I became a visual  comic. Within a couple of years I was travelling a huge rubber shark, a 20 foot high inflatable Diving Suit, a Cat that sat on my shoulder, a full size Lionskin and a pair of Biscuit Tins to dance in. Someone told me they’d seen a guy ‘on a Chicken’ in a street carnival, I told legendary Prop maker Peter Pullan about it and he made me one.

Just another Prop I thought but it grew and grew. A few years (and many modifications later) we stopped the Show at the Royal Variety Show in front of Her late Majesty the Queen who was reported ‘to be dabbing away tears of laughter’. After 25 years I’d become an overnight success.

What made you go on THE VOICE?

I’d started taking singing lessons to rediscover my singing voice. There’d been a vast improvement and I thought ‘THE VOICE’ would be a perfect showcase, I didn’t tell anyone what I was up to in case they tried to talk me out of it.  Although the ‘Chairs’ didn’t turn, it reminded the world that I was much more than an elderly Ostrich Jockey.

What do you want people to take from the book?

I hope it reflects my journey, that little lad wearing clogs who went on to meet the Queen eventually earning a standing ovation in Las Vegas. Along the way I travelled the world with a brass Band carrying a Trombone I couldn’t play, and, oh yes, almost forgot, as a hobby I learned to fly a Microlight.

What is the secret to a long life?

Being lucky perhaps. Looking back I’ve experienced some tragedies which have left their mark but even so to have reached 87 makes me a lucky Boy.

Who would you most like to work with?

I’d love to work with the next generation, Jon Richardson had me on ’Meet the Richardsons’ a couple of times. Johnny Vegas of course

Have you still got any ambitions left?

I’m hoping to tour again,  this time with my Book under me arm. And yes it’s true, the Ostrich has been put out to pasture (seemed the kindest thing to do)

Finally, what other projects are you working on?

I’d love to continue performing with the ‘Legends of Variety’ Tour and I’m happy to report that my voice continues to recover following my collision with Covid last year.

Bernie Clifton: Crackerjack to Vegas is available now from: https://www.bannisterpublications.com/bookstore