Irreverent, irrepressible and the menace of chat shows, Freddie Starr's reputation goes before him, and having interviewed him before I knew what to expect - anything!

To set up the interview we had to work it in around fittings for his new costumes. So is there a new-look Freddie this time for us at Fairfield this Saturday?

"It's a new concept and a good, new show," he says.

"I know that over the years I have had to change with the times, but I have 40 years of experience and the majority of my audience has a good time.

"It's not about the individual person."

Freddie is in serious mood.

He tells me that at this stage in his life he is reflective and thoughtful, very different from his stage persona.

He has mellowed with age and looking back at his career he can see the highs and lows of stardom.

Born Frederick Fowell in wartime Liverpool, he had a strict but fair upbringing.

Illness kept him apart from his family for two years when he was just six years old.

Freddie always had a gut feeling that he wasn't going to end up as a docker. He first married at just 17 and began to nurture a singing career with a group. It was the 60s, and like The Beatles, he gigged in Liverpool and Hamburg. His comic streak kept breaking out and he would intersperse songs with gags and impressions.

Before long he went solo.

In 1970 he appeared on the Royal Variety Performance, becoming the first performer in 47 years to be allowed an encore.

His own television series quickly followed. His zany, practical jokes became his trademark, each one eclipsing the last.

"I studied the human race to research my act. In the factories, pubs and clubs, swearing is a natural thing. My show is for adults only and to be honest a swear word can't hurt you can it? As for the blue humour, kids today know more about sex than you and me put together!" he says.

Talking of kids today what did he think about Prince Harry's Nazi costume escapade? Freddie himself had a famous routine with him dressed as Hitler in wellies and shorts. "I think it was a storm in a teacup over Prince Harry. I took the Mickey out of the most cruel, evil man that ever walked this earth.

"My mother was Jewish and I had the right to do it. I started to get complaints in the 80s about the swastika, but that was originally an Egyptian sign for peace. I was not being detrimental about the Jewish faith or being a Nazi sympathiser.

"There's a lot of injustice in the world and tragedy in every country you go to. We need balance in life," he adds.

On a lighter note I ask if the lure of the tour still works its magic?

"I know every cat's eye on every motorway," he laughs, "I drove 350 miles to the south coast to a venue. That took six hours and then you have to do theatre sound checks in the afternoon before an evening performance. That performance ends at 11pm, and then it's off another 250 miles somewhere else to a hotel where I'll get an 11am wake up call to do it all over again in a different town. This tour is 30 dates.

"The pressure is on, but it's a career that's provided good schools and a very nice standard of living for my children. Yet it took its toll on my marriages and I haven't seen my children for a long while. Eat your caviar and shut up though, I say," he says.

Freddie then delivers the news that he might be retiring next year. "The business has changed. I might retire next year as I don't think you should stay for ego's sake. I've been so lucky and it's best to leave before you look pathetic," he thinks.

Tickets for Freddie Star at Fairfield Concert Hall, this Saturday at 8pm, are £17.50 and £15.50 from the box office on 020 8688 9291.