"I've had a brilliant life." As Jasper Carrott celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday, the Birmingham comedian admits comedy is hard work but he still enjoys entertaining crowds. "I don't do as many shows as I used to," he told the BBC.
"These days I do it because I just really love it, really enjoy it. "Of course I get the sympathy vote from the audience - 'oh the poor old devil, let's go and see, it's probably the last chance we'll get to see him'." As a performer, he first came to prominence in the 1970s with anecdotes about Midlands life delivered in a Brummie accent - and his novelty single Funky Moped, a surprise top five hit in 1975.
He went on to host shows including Carrott's Lib, Carrott's Commercial Breakdown, the game show Golden Balls and he was in the comedy show The Detectives with Robert Powell. Born Robert Davis on 14 March 1945, the comedian said former ELO drummer Bev Bevan played a part in his stage name. "It is his fault", he said, reflecting on when they were on a golf course in Swanshurst Park in Birmingham.
"We'd finished playing silly golf and a bloke came up...
Bev said 'oh this is Jasper' and this guy said 'Jasper who?' "No-one had ever asked me 'Jasper who?'...
I just said 'carrot'. I don't know why. "The Bevan thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard so he immediately went and told everybody 'oh, it's Jasper Carrott'.
" The comedian explained school teachers had called him Jasper but his wife went out with him for six months before "she real.
