Joe Longthorne is known for his impersonations of hundreds of the world’s top singers including Shirley Bassey.

During his career, Joe has received gold and platinum discs for his albums, enjoyed sell-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall as well as touring Australia.

Born in Hull in 1954 to a family of gipsies, between 1987 and 1990 Joe’s TV series regularly clocked up 12 million viewers a night; his three albums went platinum; his stage shows here and in the United States were packed.

He owned four Bentleys, two Rolls-Royces and lived in a swanky house in Maidenhead.

Then he was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia. Nevertheless, after treatment, he kept touring, and in 1996 added a best-selling video, A Man And His Music, to his pile of glittering prizes.

Then, in 2000, he had a nervous breakdown and was officially declared bankrupt.

He lost the lot: the Bentleys, the Rollers and the house in the Thames Valley.

There but for fortune, as the song says. In spite of these blows, Joe dug in, returned to his Northern roots and started over in Blackpool.

Even a bone marrow transplant in 2007 couldn’t stop him in his tracks.

Joe returned to the stage, got back on mainstream television and is back on tour.

He’s not a quitter: that’s why people respond so warmly to him.

Those in Lancashire will get the opportunity to show their feelings when he plays shows in Blackburn, Blackpool and Colne in February.

* Joe Longthorne plays Blackburn Thwaites Empire Theatre on Friday, February 11. 7.30pm. Tickets £20 from 01254 685 500; Imperial Hotel, Blackpool on Sunday, February 13. Tickets 07929 746032; then Colne Municipal Hall, Thursday, February 17. Tickets 01282 661234.