FUNNYMAN Phil Cool may well be a man of a thousand faces, but one of those has been conspicuously absent in recent years.

The comic, famed for his contorted expressions, openly admits it is his public face which has slipped from sight.

But now the comedian from Chorley, who used to have his own television series, hopes a revamped act which he is taking to this year's Edinburgh Festival will put him firmly back in the spotlight.

Remaining faithful to his roots, Phil will be giving his fans in the area a sneak preview of the Edinburgh show at The Met in Bury on Saturday, July 27.

The show is one of three Edinburgh warm-up dates, the other two are in Blackpool on July 17 and 18.

Phil said: "I have slipped into obscurity a little. And yes, I am hoping the Edinburgh show will get me spotted by some young producer."

But what can fans expect?

"This show is a little different from usual. I do three or four songs and then show a little film I made a few years ago about driving. After that I do a stand-up slot where I do impressions, including Ali G, Eddie Izzard, Billy Connolly and Jo Brand. I have never sworn on stage before, but I have to with these characters. In fact, part of the script for Billy Connolly is about swearing.

"I then stay on stage and do a longer stand-up spot. That takes up to an hour -- the limit for my Edinburgh Show. But at Bury I will take a break and come back on to do more stand-up."

Phil is relishing a return to the live stage. He said: "I have always had a problem doing television, but it was necessary to get myself known in the first place."

Phil headlined five TV series and a special, in addition to appearing in Royal Variety shows and the Secret Policeman's Ball.

He said: "I do think television got me pigeon-holed. People thought of me as just pulling faces and doing Rolf Harris. But all of that would perhaps only take something like three minutes out of a two-hour show."

Phil does remain faithful to some of his old favourites, including Rolf Harris. But has he ever had any feedback from the people he imitates?

"I went to Rolf Harris's 70th birthday recently when I was invited to get up on stage with him and do my impression, which he loved." Phil began his professional life as an apprentice electrician, working in a shop in Chorley. He said: "When I was in my early 20s I began to appear every weekend in a pub in Preston. A rock group would appear there on a regular basis and I would do my stuff between sets.

"Eventually, I got an act together, and that was when an agent spotted me. One night I had a gig at Everton FC and got a telephone call from my agent. He was asking me if, on my way home, I could appear at another gig -- a wedding in Wigan. I did, and that night I earned £45. I was making £16 during the day as an electrician. It was then that I thought 'This beats being an electrician'. It was more money and more fun so I decided to take the plunge." Phil eventually got spotted by a TV producer and was offered a regular spot on the lunchtime show Pebble Mill. That led to a pilot show of his own, and then to his own series in 1985. The big concert hall shows followed.

But how did his trademark rubbery face begin to take shape?

"Through staring at myself in a mirror and seeing how I could make my face move. It comes in handy when I do Wallace and Grommit, Bugs Bunny, Quasimodo and the Elephant Man."

Tickets for Phil's show at The Met in Bury are £10 and £8 concessions, from 0161 761 2216. It is not suitable for children.