THE Bradshaws first welcomed the nation into their two up, two down, terraced abode way back in the 1980s.

Since, the fictional family created and voiced by comedian and musician Buzz Hawkins have landed two Sony Radio Award for Best Use Of Comedy, sold thousands of tapes and CDs, and the Bradshaws stories average 2,000 plus digital downloads and streams per month.

Even Blackpool illuminations has paid tribute to the much-loved Alf, Audrey and Billy Bradshaw, by featuring a big tableau on the north shore.

Now, writer-voicer-producer Buzz brings radio’s longest running favourite funny family to life on stage.

Armed with the hot of the press new comedy song album Catchy Choruses and Daft Bits, and with 30-odd years of comedy writing to go at, Buzz brings his Buzz Hawkins' Man Behind The Bradshaws show to Settle Victoria Hall on Friday, November 18 (box office 01729-825718) and The Bryce, at Burneside, on Saturday, November 19 (01539-727142).

Billed as an unforgettable rib-cracking night out, the Buzz Hawkins' show celebrates his life with the Bradshaws - man and boy (and mother too) - as well as launch the new album featuring much requested previously unreleased comedy songs, plus loads of his irreverent stand-up.

Born and bred in Manchester, Buzz was originally a session musician then became a producer on the legendary Manchester-based Piccadilly Radio station, which was the city's first commercial radio station hitting the airwaves in 1974.

The family was created for the Gary Davies Show in 1983 when Buzz wrote a poem about a family's day trip to Blackpool.

The idea soon developed into a series. In 1986, Buzz was made producer of the Phil Wood Show, on which he performed more Bradshaws material.

Buzz went on to sell cassettes of his Bradshaws episodes as well as doing stand-up, acting and more.

The Bradshaws series has been re-released as a 25 volume CD collection and the series has gained great popularity in the north and overseas. It has been said that some people still ask who the voice actors are even though all the characters are voiced by Buzz. Some episodes were also made into a television series in the 1990s by Granada TV.

The Bradshaws stories have been running on radio without a break for 32 years; Bay Radio airs the Bradshaws stories on the Danny Matthews show each week and many other UK stations, from the Midlands to Gateshead, broadcast Buzz's tales of the fabled family.

Self confessed fans of the Bradshaws include the likes of Arthur Smith, Peter Kay, Mark Radcliffe, Mark Riley, Chris Evans, Frank Skinner, John Henshaw, Dave Spikey, and many more.

Buzz had great success last year with his Goosed stage show and is really looking forward to touring the new show.

He's recently published his first book The Bradshaws An' All That book as well as an e-Bradshaws comic book, wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated.

And apparently - off the record - a Bradshaws animation is in the pipeline.