BBC Northampton presenter and broadcasting legend Bernie Keith has announced he is returning to stand-up comedy for the first time in seven years.

Bernie revealed he will take to the stage at The Old Savoy in Northampton for An Evening with Bernie Keith on Saturday, November 7, at 7.30pm.

The popular broadcaster said he had considered making his comedy comeback last year but changed his mind after something happened which “knocked my confidence”.

However, after giving the idea more thought in recent months, Bernie has decided the time is right to get back on stage.

In typically forthright fashion, he said "why should I have my wings clipped” by people he neither “respected, liked or in some cases, know”, adding: “And of course the answer is ‘I shouldn’t!’”

Bernie last performed stand-up in 2019.

He admitted to some nerves about his comeback after watching comedians Andrew Bird and Russell Howard perform in Northampton, saying the pair were “both so funny as to put the fear of God into me”.

But with the show already agreed, he joked: “It’s too late to back out.”

Bernie promised to reveal more about what audiences can expect over the coming days, although he offered one early description: “Me being rude, basically!”

Explaining why he wants to return to comedy, Bernie said: “It’s been a long time and I want to return to trying to send people out into the night feeling happy and better about themselves. Or at least have a go!”

Tickets for An Evening with Bernie Keith at The Old Savoy are due to go on sale on Friday.