Entertainer and former Countdown host Des O’Connor is heading for Shropshire this month.

He will perform two sessions of comedy, music and laughter at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on March 25.

Dido Blench, marketing manager for Ludlow Assembly Rooms, said: “He is one of only a handful of British entertainers to be acclaimed internationally on stage and television: when he was given an American series of his show it went out to over 40 countries and was seen by 200 million people worldwide.

“On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House, The O’Keefe Centre, Toronto and made over 1,000 solo appearances at the London Palladium.”

The singer and television personality was awarded with a CBE in June 2008 in the Queen’s birthday honours list for his services to entertainment and broadcasting.

In January 2007 Des took over the helm of the hugely popular words and numbers, daily quiz Countdown for Channel 4 Television and left in December 2008.

His award-winning ITV1 daily celebrity talk show Today With Des & Mel with co-host Melanie Sykes proved such a hit with viewers that the show more than doubled its audience.

There will be two shows at 4pm and 8pm at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Tickets cost £30 and a limited number of free tickets are available for young people under 26.

For details or to book contact the box office on (01584) 878141.