BINGO caller Brian Gillatt is used to picking winning numbers -- now he's crossing his fingers in hope his own lucky numbers come up.

He has been picked to take part in the regional final of the Bingo Caller of the Year Competition.

The 41-year-old has a popular following at Gala Club in Burnley.

It was in 1977 when he was working in a hair salon he first went into the Majestic Bingo Club in Stoneyholme.

"There was only the manager, manageress and me and they said I would have to call and from there I have been tarred with it!" He joked.

Since those early days he has worked in many clubs around the area including Mecca in Blackburn and EMI at Preston where the manager said he would never be a caller.

Now Brian is one of five callers in the regional final on October 27 in Oldham hoping for a place in the national final at the London Palace Bingo Club on November 27.

He said: "I have tried to enter this competition in the past and something has always happened to prevent it.

"This time I got the team at Gala to video me and I won through!

"I attended Fearns High School in Stacksteads, the same school as Jane Horrocks -- it must be the school for the stars!" Brian, who lives in central Burnley, said: "Every time I step on a stage I am nervous because I don't know what is coming but I just take on a different persona and if I am on a downer something perks me up. "I have started keeping a book at home of one-liners which I can throw in.

"I can't go anywhere without someone recognising me -- it has happened in Malta, Benidorm and all over the UK. I am hounded!

"When you start bingo calling its like some sort of intravenous drip which you can't do without.

"I don't know if it is the audience, but even if I am not working it then I have to play it!"

Even when he was on holiday in Cornwall he travelled 120 miles to find a bingo hall so he could have a game.

He will have just eight minutes to impress the judges who include last year's winner Steve Linder whose success was televised in a documentary. Brian said: "I have done bingo holidays over five days where you are almost living, sleeping and breathing bingo 24 hours a day and that should stand me in good stead for the final.

"You have your usual patter you use at the club but when it comes to something like this its like bringing out an LP of 'the best of...'"

He is never without his mascot Wonky Donkey who came from the States and was given to Brian by a customer -- he is hoping to take the mascot home if he wins because the part of the prize is a trip to Beverley Hills and Las Vegas.

He added: "When I first started I thought it would tide me over until I got a proper job.

"Now I wouldn't change it. I get such satisfaction from it because every day is different and it is such a versatile job with an end product -- happy people!" BRIAN has developed his own bingo calls over the years.

4 on the floor -- from when Brian was sleeping on a friend's floor at Trafalgar Flats

11 is whistlers and ticklers for leg's 11

17 is Owd Ireland, because of St Patrick's Day

33 all the threes is Fish Chips and Peas

45 is half-way there

59 is the year I was born

88 is two 'plump' ladies, so as not to offend any larger members of the audience.