Des showed he had lost none of his magic as he had the audience at Dudley Concert Hall roaring with laughter, clapping and singing along to a selection of classic songs during last night’s hugely-enjoyable show.

Des belied his 74 years as he wise-cracked his way through an informal, laugh-a-minute first half of the show.

Completely at ease on the stage and with the audience hanging on his every word, he told stories about his time in the Black Country as a young man when he dated a girl from Pensnett.

“It’s lovely to be back ‘ere, ay it?” he quipped in a passable Black Country accent. “I used to go up the High Oak in Pensnett for a pint. It was bostin’.”

He also showed why he is the master of the one-liners when someone in the audience shouted out for an autograph.

“How long do you think my arms are?” was his razor-sharp reply.

After the interval, Des came out dressed in smart evening wear and was joined by his band members for an hour of music which included medleys of Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley songs.

“Lock the doors, I’m going to sing,” he announced. “I once saw someone throw one of my albums into the river – all the fish jumped out.”

Although he has been ribbed for years about his singing, he he has a lovely, rich voice which soon had the audience tapping their feet and singing along.