Review: Jim Davidson, Oakengates Theatre, Telford

The comedian appeared at Telford's Oakengates Theatre just 24 hours after his rearrest by police investigating sexual offences allegedly committed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Davidson, who has not been charged with any crime, only confirmed he was coming to Telford at lunchtime yesterday, shortly after he had been bailed by police.

Last night he thanked the 450 or so people in the 600-seater venue for coming 'despite the local paper', making a barbed reference to the last time 59-year-old Davidson performed in Telford.

Back in 2007 the Shropshire Star – last night rechristened with several unprintable names by the comic ("I can't wait to read this write-up!") – reported that he'd sworn never to return after a row with a local hotel.

"Ladies and gentlemen it's very nice to be back here," Davidson said, before pretending to be unable to pronounce the name of the Oakengates Theatre.

"The last time I had a bit of a kerfuffle," he added. "It did say in the local paper that I'd said I'd never come back to Telford. That wasn't quite true. The council said we're never having him back. So I think we'll call that a draw."

He appeared keen to set the record straight – and even though he told us he couldn't talk about his rearrest, he spent a good proportion of his 90-minute act doing just that.

"Before we go any further," he said, just moments after walking on stage, "I have been rearrested."

That means, he explained, 'that you turn up thinking that the first two allegations are going to be dropped', and instead another 'heap are dropped on you from 1978.'

"Now," he added, "I can't remember what I was doing in 1978. I can't even remember which wife I had in 1978."

Davidson talked about how he was first arrested in January when he was preparing to go on TV's Celebrity Big Brother.

The investigation is part of Operation Yewtree, which was prompted by the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

Davidson made several jokes about Savile, whom he'd met a couple of times. "Whenever he turned up you'd run away."

He added: "The funny thing was – if you think there's any fun to be had in this, and I always think there is – you've got to look at the fact that anyone can accuse anyone of anything. That doesn't mean that you've done it.

"If I'd done any of this maybe I wouldn't be here tonight. But this is my job. You can't let people upset you, but you've got to look for the fun side."

The former Generation Game and Big Break host, who is appearing at the Regal Theatre, Tenbury Wells, tonight, spoke about sliding into obscurity and the short shelf-life of a TV comedian who is not longer on the TV.

"You sort of know when you get an audience as big as this," he added, surveying the room. "You do. You've got to be realistic."

He asked how many of the audience had been fans 'since I was the same age as Michael MacIntyre?' and a few hands shot up.

"Exactly. We've been mates for years, and you've always stood by me, thick and thin, good or bad. You've heard all the jokes, you've seen all the stuff. You know more about me than I do. You certainly know more about me than that copper does."

He added: "You see, as you get older you find your audiences leave you one row at a time."

He added: "I've been having a laugh with you, but it's been the worst six months of my life. I can see why certain unnamed entertainers are in loony bins cracking up."

He said he had to keep telling the truth about the claims against him.

"The reason I came here tonight and the reason that I'm not hiding out of the way is that I really thrive off the support I can feel that's coming my way from all of you.

"You know me. I've never hidden a thing."