Jasper Carrott. It often seems that stand-up comedy has become the exclusive domain of young comics obsessed with expletives and bodily functions. Thank heaven, then, for Jasper Carrott, the exasperated voice of middling England, especially of parents sandwiched between two difficult generations (teenage children and their grandparents) who, as Carrott remarks, are both on drugs.

Its hard to believe Jasper Carrott funnyman, singer and sit-com star of The Detectives is celebrating 30 years in show business having started off in the clubs back in 1969.

When God made Jasper he gave him all he requires to make people laugh rolling eyes, a rubber neck and a face to launch a thousand well-scripted quips. He tears out what little hair he has left over everything from teenagers to grandparents. He even manages to take the mickey out of the sick without causing offence. As the man himself put it Laughter is the best medicine unless youre diabetic, then insulin comes pretty high on the list.