IF YOU have ever been traumatised by situations such as opening a new tub of margarine when there is already a half-full one lurking at the back of the fridge behind a bag of salad, John Shuttleworth feels your pain.

Tragi-comic musical alter-ego of comedian Graham Fellows, John has built up a loyal army of fans for his downbeat ditties waxing lyrical on the mundane yet somehow meaningful problems of everyday life such as I Can’t Go Back to Savoury Now which tells the tale of his inability to finish off his wife Mary’s uneaten Shepherd’s Pie as he’s already begun tucking into his pudding.

Over a comedy career spanning four decades, John has conquered stage, screen and radio with award-winning shows such as BBC Radio 4 series The Shuttleworths, hit BBC TV series 500 Bus Stops.

Punk fans will also recall his turn as Jilted John with whom he reached number four in the UK charts in 1978 (as JJ he released three singles and an album) and his musical CV is a who's who of appearances with stellar names that even includes a stadium support slot alongside pop rockers Blur.

Away from John, 55-year-old Graham has also carved a career as a successful actor his CV for which includes appearances on ITV’s Coronation Street and Heartbeat and starring alongside Steve Coogan on his hit BBC comedy show Coogan’s Run.

John is a Brewery Arts Centre veteran and is looking forward to his return to the Kendal venue on Thursday, March 5 (8pm) with his new show entitled a Wee Ken to Remember, which explores the life of his next-door neighbour and long suffering agent Ken Worthington and features onstage phone calls to Ken, Mary and many mirthful musical interludes.

“I've played the Brewery several times and have always had a super time, though the car park is on a bit of a gradient, as memory serves," recalls John (or is it Graham). "The chocolate brownies from the cafe are of an excellent quality, and the venue always gives me my petrol money in an attractive brown envelope!"

“I may also try and nip to the Pencil Museum in Keswick the following day to stand next to the tallest pencil in the world - a humbling experience.”

Despite his love of the Lakes, John admits his patience is often irked by aspects of the great outdoors and he may be tempted to put his frustrations to music in the future.

“I do like coming to the Lake District, however, I should point out that last time I was in the Pencil Museum cafe, a large group of hikers entered and immediately began taking off their cagoules. The awful cacophony of rustling nylon put me and my wife, Mary off our tiffin.”

“I also think some of the mountains are a bit too high - as does my wife - and they block out the sun sometimes, but I don't suppose there's much anyone can do about that, and we try not to let it spoil our enjoyment.”

As well as John, the Brewery's packed programme of spring entertainment also includes another big name from the comedy world, deadpan Irish comedian and actor Dylan Moran.

Dylan is renowned as the star of cult classic TV comedy Black Books as well as roles in hit movies such as Shaun of the Dead and Calvary and he will be performing a special warm-up show at the Brewery on February 26 before embarking on a major UK tour later in the year.

But back to Sheffield-based musical maestro John, whose renowned for his slick sense of style in 'fab' fawn polyester slacks and a polo-neck sweater.

He has yet to tinkle the ivories on his Yamaha organ to a song about the Lake District but he certainly hasn’t ruled it out joining fellow bards such as the likes of William Wordsworth and John Ruskin and putting his pen to paper.

“I haven’t written any songs specifically about Cumbria, they tend to be about my home county of South Yorkshire but Eggs and Gammon is about a night spent in a tent in Rhyll, which isn't too far away from Cumbria, I suppose.”

For full details of the Brewery's spring season visit www.breweryarts.co.uk or telephone the box office on 01539-725133.