Danny Baker had it all worked out. He and his wife Wendy were going to retire and move to sunnier climes in Portugal. But then something happened…

I’ll let Danny tell the story – after all, he does it so well. “When I was promoting my last book, I did a couple of festivals and they sold out really quickly. I did them, and I enjoyed them, and people turned up.” 

So, continues the award-winning broadcaster, writer and performer, “I said, ‘Do you know what? Let’s do a couple of them in London, just telling the stories out the books.’ 

“The books are fine and great, and the TV series were fine and great. But I still tell the stories first hand, and that’s how they work best. Anyway, the shows sold out immediately.

“So the two dates become 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. I did two nights at the Shepherds Bush Empire last week. Bang! Again, same thing – sold out.” 

What is most extraordinary about his first show - entitled “Cradle To The Stage” – is that Danny only covered a fraction of his upbringing in south London.

The 61-year-old recalls: “I hadn’t even left school by the end of the three-hour shows. I had 48 photos to show people. We got through six.” 

Danny still had an absolute wealth of stories to recount, but initially he wasn’t convinced he should do another tour. At which point, he recollects, “The promoters asked, ‘Do you want to go again?’ I replied, ‘I’m not so sure.’

Then the first cheque came in from the tour, and I said, ‘Let’s go again’.” 

So you’ll be delighted to hear that Danny has decided to take the show on the road once again. He is coming to the Wycombe Swan in October with his hilarious new show, “Good Time Charlie’s Back!”

It comprises more uproarious anecdotes from his treasure trove of life stories. No, I can’t wait either. But you had better book your tickets soon, as they are selling out fast. 

Critics have already been raving about Danny’s live performance. The Mail on Sunday describes the show as, “A delightful nostalgia fest.

An ‘evening with’ like no other… A raft of cracking anecdotes.” Meanwhile, The Evening Standard declares that, “Boy, can he sell a story… a compelling, evocative account of his south London roots”.

For its part, The Guardian comments: “Baker makes a compelling case for the liveliness of his personal golden age. His glee, and his love for their protagonists, bring them leaping to life.

“As a host, he’s entirely unpretentious and fires off stories as they come to him…It’s hard not to marvel at the flow”.

I feel like I have had a marvellous preview of “Good Time Charlie’s Back!” during our 45-minute interview in the run-up to the tour.

Talking at breakneck speed, Danny is a veritable force of nature, a molten lava flow of wondrous stories. He could entertain you merely by reading out of the telephone directory.

It is a real pleasure spending time in his company.
Performing live certainly plays to Danny’s strengths.

Responsible for the hugely popular BBC2 sitcom, Cradle to Grave, based on the first volume of his bestselling autobiography, he is a supremely gifted off-the-cuff performer who has no need for direction or a script.

Priceless stories flood out of him like an undamned river. 
Danny Baker will be performing in High Wycombe on October 14.

For more details, or to get tickets, visit wycombeswan.co.uk.