COMIC Jim Bowen could soon be treading the boards again with his former pals from the hit television series The Comedians.

The funnyman quit his job as presenter on Radio Lancashire in October, saying he was retiring from showbusiness after an on-air gaffe.

But the 65-year-old says he will accept work if it is something he wants to do.

Last week he returned from a stint on the luxury liner the QE2, and is already looking forward to a return booking in the spring.

"There's talk of doing another summer season in Blackpool next year with The Comedians," he said. "We did it this year with members of the original cast and it went well. If it came up I would do it because I enjoy it."

In the meantime Jim, who grew up in East Lancashire after being adopted by an Accrington family as a baby, is looking forward to a quiet Christmas with his family.

"Our son's in Tenerife. We saw him when we were there with the ship. He manages a couple of bakeries out there so we had our Christmas with him last week. My daughter Sue works in London and she will be up for two or three days over Christmas.

"We like to go to out to a pub on Christmas night, a local with a few friends, and someone will cook and we will have a bit of fun.

"The thing is we have always lived in Lancashire and we have been in the Lune Valley since 1968. Up here I'm just a normal member of the public.

"It's genuine enjoyment with people we have known for years. It's not a tinsel Christmas."

He describes his three-and-a-half years presenting the morning Happy Daft Farm show on radio as "fabulous" - but he doesn't miss having to get up at 7am.

"I think there comes a time to step back. A lot of people in showbusiness don't know when to and at 65 it's time Peter Kay had a shout. He's a very funny man. Your 30s are the time to be a comic. The business has been very good to me and we have had a great life as a result."