THE man with the duck is back! Long-time favourite Keith Harris is returning to the Grand Theatre this year in Blackpool's biggest ever summer show -- and he's bringing Orville and Cuddles with him.

Keith will be one of the stars of the Grand's big summer spectacular, The Joe Longthorne Show, alongside comedian Billy Pearce and the Alan Harding Dancers.

And the creator of the much-loved Orville the Duck and cheeky monkey Cuddles is thrilled to be back at the Grand, where he topped the bill with his own show in 1982.

"It's good to be going back to the Grand after all these years. It helped to launch my career. When I was there in 1982 I held the record for getting the most bums on seats ever.

"The Grand is my favourite theatre, what I call a proper theatre, the number one venue in Blackpool for plays and shows," says Keith.

But Keith's career has taken a new twist since he last topped the Blackpool bill in 1982 -- a great year for Keith which also saw his hit record, Orville's Song, selling over 450,000 copies.

He is now a cult hit on the university circuit, along with Orville and Cuddles. "The characters have grown up and the student audiences have grown up with us. We have become cult figures, a bit of a legend.

"In fact we are one of the most booked acts that universities have had in years. We are the new alternatives now," he says, and adds that at a recent university student ball he was amazed that the audience of graduates in full tuxedos were fighting to kiss Orville.

But now Keith, who lives in Poulton with his wife Sarah and their children, 14-month-old Kitty and new son Shenton, aged six weeks, is looking forward to spending the summer season in his home town.

Keith and friends will be starring in The Joe Longthorne Show at the Grand from July 5 to October 27.