Comedian turned children's author Julian Clary heads to Oxford Literary Festival and World Book Day

Julian Clary flouncing about on stage is nothing new, especially as he has a new tour to conduct, predictably entitled The Joy of Mincing.

But to be performing as a children’s author at The Sheldonian Theatre as part of the Oxford Literary Festival is perhaps more of a surprise.

“I know,” he says in delight, “making children laugh is a whole new thing for me, it’s lovely. No child pretends to laugh – so it’s very genuine.

“It’s obviously a world away from my usual filth but that’s liberating. A whole new world!”

The national trinket, author, TV and radio star has a busy 2016 in store then. Julian is celebrating 30 years as a camp comedian by hitting the road with his comedy tour, and March also sees the release of the second instalment of Julian’s debut series of children’s books The Bolds.

Which is why he’s also taking precious time out of his busy touring schedule to visit Chipping Norton tomorrow for the World Book Day Biggest Show On Earth, alongside book illustrator David Roberts.

“I’m on to my third now. They flow out of me, I don’t know where they’re all coming from. It’s delightful; I just have such a lovely time writing them. It’s a bit like the Just William books, of which there were about 45. I feel like I can go on and on with them. Whether the public want me to or not.”

Why do you think they resonate so well with children? “It’s not for me to say, really. But I think they’re funny and morally sound, and very plot driven. I guess because I enjoy writing them so much that somehow comes across.

“I’m always looking for a surprising offer, mind you. Good things often come along as a sort of divine intervention. Just as you’re thinking, ‘What am I going to do next year?’, something wonderful comes along. But at the moment The Bolds are alive and well in my mind, so it’s all about them.”

As for touring, Julian refuses to whinge: “Other comedians complain that it’s lonely and that you eat badly because you’re constantly on the road. Well, nobody’s making you do it. And there’s a Waitrose in every town these days. It’s probably just the dreary, married heterosexual types that complain.”

Which means, whether on tour or on stage at The Sheldonian, Julian is raring to go. “This is what I wanted to do 30 years ago, and I’m still doing it – standing on stage, talking about myself and getting applause for it. What’s not to like?”

And yet while he still a sucker for an innuendo, it seems that Julian is a bit more settled, less irate. Is this the case? Has he finally turned his back on partying and instead living an idyllic rural lifestyle in a village in Kent? “Yes. Well that’s what I’m telling you anyway. I think there’s nothing drearier than a 56-year-old homosexual hanging around Soho in lycra. Mercifully, one grows out of that. People imagine I’m camp and outrageous all the time and that I wear full make-up and glittery outfits when I’m at home doing the hoovering. In fact I wear just a touch of raspberry lip balm and a drip dry kimono. Just like anyone else.”

Presumably he’s infamous in his village? “Well, who knows? Most people here have got better things to do than get excited about celebrities in their midst. Mind you, I was in the front garden recently and a woman drove past with a friend and then I heard her car screech to a halt. And I heard her say, ‘There he is, look, there he is’. Then she shouted out to me, ‘Where’s the other one?’, meaning Paul O’Grady, who lives in the same village. Quite rude, I thought. Probably from Ashford.”

You don’t miss those days, at all? “Absolutely not. You’d have to pay a lot of money to get me into a nightclub, sniffing and snorting and dragging some trollop home with me.”

He’s ageing in a dignified manner then. “It’s not on the top of my list of enjoyable things, no. Although I am thrilled with my grey hair. I’ve turned from a fluffy chicken into a silver fox. It’s very interesting: when you’re young, there are all these things you want to achieve.

“Then when you get to your 50s you’ve either done them or you haven’t, so the physical deterioration is offset by the things that you can tick off the list. In that respect each decade is better than the last.

“I’m fine about myself, really. It could have been a lot worse. Making people laugh is my main aim in life these days. I don’t think there’s so much to be angry about now.”

Where and when
Tomorrow: Chipping Norton
St Mary’s Church
worldbookday.com
Sunday April 3: Sheldonian Theatre oxfordliteraryfestival.org