GRAHAM Fellows' newest character is a nouveau riche concreter called Dave Tordoff.

"He's like a northern Loads o' Money," says Sheffield-born Graham, 43, referring to the Harry Enfield creation. "But he's more rounded. He's not a caricature.

"He's got his own website with pictures of his daughter on it and he's got a jet-ski. He's very aspirational. He's basically a stupid show-off. He's rather dense and shallow."

The reason Graham and Dave are so well-acquainted is that Dave is one of the many characters Graham will bring to life on his tour Pillock of the Community.

Along with long-standing favourites like John Shuttleworth and rock 'n' roll anorak Brian Appleton, Graham will introduce audiences to a range of other inane characters which, over the years, fans have come to know and love.

He said: "Audiences seem to recognise Dave straight away.

"The characters of John and Brian have been around longer, but people fresh to the three of them identify Dave more with people they know."

Graham draws his inspiration from a range of sources, including local papers, people he meets and his father-in-law.

He said: "My wife's father is a little bit of a John Shuttleworth.

"He said to me once: 'I'm going to take some disadvantaged children out to see a horse in a field'. You couldn't write something like that."

However, to preserve family relations, Graham manages to keep his father-in-law away from his show.

"I think he might be offended. He doesn't really get it."

Graham started touring with his characters following the 1992 Edinburgh Festival, where he won the critics' award.

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It followed a career which had seen success in a number of areas, including a role in Coronation Street as Gail's boyfriend and a number four UK chart hit as Jilted John.

In spite of Graham's popularity with audiences he doesn't see himself, primarily, as a comedian.

"I'm not qualified to be a comedian because I'm not particularly funny. I'm funny when I don't mean to be. I don't stand up and tell jokes -- I create characters. I'm a character actor."

Catch Graham Fellows on tour at Hebden Bridge Picture House tonight -- call 01422 351158 for tickets -- or Preston Charter Theatre on Sunday, May 25. Details on 01772 258858.