This week, PHIL COOL shares happy boyhood memories

COMEDIAN Phil Cool was born in Chorley and lived in the town until he was 21.

Despite TV stardom he never strayed from his roots and now lives between Longridge Fell and Whitewell in the scenic Ribble Valley, from where he travels to gigs around the country and fits in a little bit of fishing when he gets time.

But his favourite place in Lancashire is the area around his boyhood home and he lists Anglezarke, Great Hill and White Coppice, to the east of Chorley, as his particular hot spots.

"I used to walk up there a lot when I was younger," he said.

Phil, 54, also remembers from his childhood a place called Cabbage Hall Fields near a large housing estate in Chorley where he would climb trees and fish for sticklebacks.

A mild heart attack two years ago resulted in Phil having to cancel a series of gigs but he is now in good health thanks in part to the exercise he gets walking his dog through the Forest of Bowland.

He is currently busy working on a new stage show which involves him doing impressions of fellow comedians Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard and, bizarrely, Jo Brand. You can see him in action at the Met, Market Street, Bury, tonight.