RICHARD Digance is celebrating a career that has spanned 50 years with a gig in Salisbury.

Many people sing, play guitar and tell stories but not many have supported Steve Martin, Robin Williams or played a guitar duet with Brian May of Queen. But Richard has.

He will be performing his golden anniversary tour at Salisbury Arts Centre tomorrow (Saturday, June 24) at 7.30pm.

“I never thought I would be around this long. It is really nice to return to Salisbury," admits Richard who last performed in Salisbury about 20 years ago. "I’m looking forward to being on home territory.”

Speaking about what audiences can expect from the tour, he said: “I had my own show on ITV for 11 years from 84-95 so there will be songs people will remember from that period. I did Countdown for 19 years so they will be expecting some poems I would have bashed out on that programme. It is really a pauperie really of do you remember this and obviously some new stuff.”

Richard spent a number of years working on TV. With a BAFTA nomination as TV entertainer of the year and gold award from The British Academy of Composers, he turned his back on show business for his first love of music and live performance. He is included in The Virgin Anthology of Songwriters for his important contribution to British comedy song writing.

He has composed various music projects as well as doing the music for Bill Bryson’s audio book.

Richard grew up in West Ham, London. He went to college in Glasgow, which is when he discovered a folk club where he would watch the then unknown Billy Connolly, who was the resident performer.

“I used to watch him and two things I noted was the blokes used to buy him beer and girls used to chat him up, and I thought those are the only two reasons I’m at college ‘what am I doing studying British history? I think I will concentrate on playing guitar’, which I did and I left college early to write for the BBC. I was a writer for the BBC for quite a few years and then I built up a sort of tag of being a good support act in the late 70s. I did big tours as a support.”

He supported US actor and comedian Steve Martin, Robin Williams and a Supertramp tour in America.

He later joined the then London Weekend Television where he stayed for 11 years until deciding to make a move to live in the country. He then worked for West Country TV and also focused on his love for music and performing.

Richard's passion for music and performing continues and now he does a lot of studio work and live work. “I really enjoy it, I have no aspirations to do anything else. I think my CV says it all.”

Richard says the highlights of his career have been playing a guitar duet with Queen’s Brian May and supporting Steve Martin.

Tickets for the Golden Anniversary tour performance at Salisbury Arts Centre tomorrow night, 7.30pm, are available by calling the box office on  01722 321744 or go to salisburyartscentre.co.uk.