FANS of the ‘strange and interesting’ will be in for a treat over the coming days when comedian Arthur Smith will be in South Lakeland.

The ‘grumpy old man’ will be in the area for the Freerange Comedy Festival, performing both stand-up and a ‘bespoke’ event on the edge of Windermere.

“There’ll be a ramble,” he explains.

“Then there’ll be something strange and interesting. For those who like a ghost, I’ll make sure there is one.

“There’ll be a sword fight, a bit of singing, maybe a murder...” A

rthur, 59, has also guaranteed that everyone who attends will laugh - and says he will enter into a wager beforehand with anyone who believes they won’t.

“They’ve got to tell me though,” he says. “I want to be able to keep an eye on them.”

This off-the-wall style is typical for the comedian and writer, who has been making waves on the comedy scene since the 1980s, taking the art where others have feared to tread.

He was one of the key figures on the ‘alternative comedy’ scene, which made a stand against ‘the establishment’ and the racism, homophobia and sexism that other acts relied on.

“I can define the scene by what it wasn’t,” he says.

“It wasn’t familiar jokes and it also wasn’t sexist, or aimed not to be racist or homophobic.

“There was also a political aspect to it.

“I don’t think anyone on the scene would have admitted to being a Tory, for example.

“There was an accepted culture in the 70s that we found quite shocking.”

He was a familiar face at the Edinburgh Fringe from the 70s onwards and led ‘history’ tours round the city - often baffling hapless tourists with invented ‘nuggets’ of information.

He has also performed ‘musical comedy’, has written and performed for radio, had a part in Red Dwarf and became one of TV’s ‘Grumpy Old Men’ after failing to pay attention - mistakenly assuming it would be ‘some 10 minute thing going out on an obscure channel’.

He also famously performed the Moldovan national anthem, naked, on one of the busiest streets in London after losing a bet.

But life for Arthur, born Brian Arthur John Smith, has become far less frenzied following a near-death experience.

“It was caused by drinking too much so I gave up drinking and entered a quieter phase,” he explains.

“I’m not so frenetic anymore.

“These days I find too much enthusiasm a bit hard-going!”

The experience - a bout of pancreatitis that left him in intensive care with more chance of dying than living - also helped him shake off depression.

“I think I’m much more sanguine now.

“If you can survive near-death, especially initially after you survive it, you enjoy just being alive.

“I try to keep that going.”

This joie de vivre will be evident throughout the event he will be hosting at Windermere on Saturday afternoon.

Described as a ‘whimsical walk’, he will take a group on a specially-chartered launch across Windermere and lead a four-mile stroll along the shoreline to Wray Castle, which will provide the backdrop for an outdoor show.

He will also be performing with several of his ‘comedy chums’ on Sunday night at the Brewery, where ‘literally anything could happen’.

For more information and tickets visit www.breweryarts.co.uk