He is best known for starring in comedy hits such as The Young Ones and Bottom but these days Ade Edmondson is just as likely to be found plucking the strings of a mandolin on stages up and down the country.

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The star, married to Jennifer Saunders, has formed his own band with a rather unusual genre; punk folk.

Last night he brought The Bad Shepherds to the Robin 2 Club in Bilston and it was a family affair with his daughter Ella Edmondson, a folk singer, providing support.

And as the band took to the stage it was soon obvious that he has lost none of the wit which has seen him become one of Britain’s best-loved comedy actors.

As they arrived on stage he joked: “The support act was very good I thought, her father must be so proud.”

Their songs were a fusion of the genres of folk and punk, think The Clash performed at a rowdy traditional Irish wedding.

Ade takes on lead vocals as well as the ‘thrash mandolin’ while Troy Donockley performs on the uillean pipes, cittern, whistles and vocals while Andy Dinan performs on the fiddle.

Sounds weird, but it works.

By Helen Cartwright