Des O'Connor is one of TV's biggest earners

The 70-year-old entertainer, who lives in Denham, will host at least three major series for the network which is capitalising on his popularity with housewives.

As well as hit chat show Des O'Connor Tonight, he will host a daily lunchtime programme with former Big Breakfast presenter Melanie Sykes.

Des will also present a series called Only Joking looking at the

appeal of comedians around the world and there will be a 90-minute special celebrating his 40 years on TV.

Here he talks to Ian Midgley about his career and the buzz he gets from being in front of a live audience.

ASK Des about what it's like appearing live and he launches off into a series of anecdotes, jokes, and quips.

He remembers the time he invited a woman from Pudsey up onto the stage to accompany him on the piano - only for her to play like Les Dawson with broken fingers. He remembers the time he was compering for Buddy Holly only to be told he couldn't tell any jokes due to the Sunday licensing laws, and he remembers the time he opened for Josef Locke only for his jokes to be ruined by the sound of the Irish tenor warming up in the wings.

Desmond Bernard O'Connor was born in Stepney, East London, on January 12, 1932. He was evacuated to Northhampton during the Second World War before going on to do his national service in the RAF and earning a crust as a clerk at a boot factory.

Like many showbiz veterans the young performer got his first taste of the theatrical life in the forces, but he didn't make his full stage debut until 1953 when he appeared at the Palace Theatre in Newcastle.

His rise to fame and fortune was rapid with hosting stints on Take Your Pick in 1956 followed by Spot The Tune in 1958 and his own headlining TV variety show in 1963.

He's the only solo artist to have starred at the London Palladium more than 1,000 times. As a singer he's sold 15 million albums around the world (despite Morecambe and Wise's best efforts), starred in his own TV shows in America and Australia as well as the long-running Des O'Connor Tonight in the UK for the last 25 years.

Despite all that Des has become the object of an enormous amount of ridicule over the years mainly at the instigation of Eric and Ernie.

One of the duo's typical exchanges went like this. Ernie: "He says he's a self made man."

Eric: "Good of him to take the blame."

Des, however, doesn't hold any grudges against his late friends.

He says: "Eric was just a clever, brilliant, witty man. I once told him that I'd set myself up as a limited company and he said you should, you're a limited personality!

"He always said you should say the first thing that comes into your head because, if you've got any sense of humour, it will be the right thing 99 per times out of a hundred."

So, after all the knocks what keeps the comic coming back for more when he could quite easily spend the rest of his life sunning himself on the terrace of a Tuscan villa?

"I still try to do at least 15 to 20 live shows a year so I don't lose touch with the audience.

"It's great sitting in a TV studio asking questions but my job there is to make the guests look good.

"The live show is when you get to do your own thing. When the audience come out to see you, you'd better be better than you are on the telly because they've paid to see you and they're expecting something special.

"TV's wonderful, that's what makes your name nationally but when you are on stage there's nothing like hearing those waves of laughter coming towards you."

Part of the lure of live work is the hint of danger and the promise of spontaneity reckons the thrice-married crooner.

"Once I asked the audience if there was anyone with any personal problems and this woman put her hand up and then another and another. It was hilarious just chatting to these people and bringing them into the show nothing serious just a bit of fun. It happened by accident but it's stayed in the act.

"I think part of the attraction is that the audience know they are seeing something that has never happened before and won't happen again - it's just of that moment."

What does Des think about becoming one of the highest paid TV entertainers?

"I'm delighted with the package of shows. The daily show will be different from other daytime shows.

"There will be big star guests and lots of fun and laughter. Melanie Sykes is a natural gorgeous with a great sense of humour."

The pair will present the one-hour show which has a working title of Live at Lunchtime.

Des's long-running Des O'Connor Tonight show helped launch the careers of Frank Skinner, Alan Davies and Lily Savage.

Expanding his role on the network is seen as a shrewd move by ITV bosses.

One was quoted as saying: "Des has a hugely loyal fan base and he will provide the channel with good, solid ratings.

"While it may not sound like the most adventurous or exciting of propositions, ITV know that they can rely on Des.

"With the state of the television industry, now is not the time for gambling. Des is the safest pair of hands around."