MORECAMBE, the hit one-man show acted by Bob Golding, written by Tim Whitnall and directed by Guy Masterson, is not only the story of a comedy legend, it also has the support of one too.

“Peter Kay was a bit of a guiding light on this project,” says Bob, finding time for a chat before the show reaches Bury’s arts venue The Met on Wednesday, February 3.

“He’s so lovely and very similar to Eric in that he takes comedy very seriously.”

Bob appeared alongside Peter in Channel 4’s Britain’s Got The Pop Factor And Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Strictly On Ice, and said he was interested in being more involved.

“Way back we asked if he would like to direct it — he jumped at the chance, but in the end his schedule just didn’t fit. He’s one of this country’s greatest talents.”

However, the Bolton comedian isn’t the only one to heap praise on the show, which is a biography of Eric Morecambe who died aged only 58 from a heart attack.

After a recent run in London, Bob had one audience member to whom the show meant more than just an evening’s entertainment.

“Joan, Eric’s widow, was there and it was quite an emotional day,” he says.

“She came round afterwards and was utterly charming. I think it was a brave thing for her to do, to come and see it, but she loved it.”

The show, which charts Morecambe and Wise’s failures as well as their successes, has received rave reviews and plaudits from critics and comedians alike — although Bob admits that once they started rehearsing he did become nervous about portraying such a giant of British comedy.

He says: “Thankfully it’s been amazingly received — wherever we go there’s so much affection for Eric.

“I’m a big fan of British comedy and I don’t think you can love British Comedy without loving Morecambe and Wise.

“I’ve met so many comedians and they’ve all said that Eric was really important to them.”

Bob puts Eric’s popularity down to the fact that everyone who watched him could relate to him.

“He was an ‘everyman’,” he says. “He had successes and failures, lost his parents and had children, just like the rest of humanity.”

But he admits that doing the show hasn’t been easy.

“It’s completely taken over my life,” he says. “My wife and three children have been as immersed in Morecambe and Wise as I have.”

The tour takes in about 120 dates, then Bob will have a couple of months off, “when I can remind my children what their father looks like”.

And Bob, who has previously appeared at the Octagon in a production of Jim Cartwright’s Eight Miles High, hopes to be able to bring the show to Bolton this year.

“I’d love to come back to the Octagon, I’d jump at the chance,” he says. “There’s a great pub around the corner, the Hen and Chickens.”

* Morecambe is on at The Met, Market Street, Bury, on Wednesday, February 3. Tickets cost £10 and are available from themet.biz or on 0161 761 2216.