PAUL STAMMERS talks to stand-up legend and king of blue humour Roy Chubby Brown as he prepares to unleash his latest observations on the audience at Oxford’s New Theatre next week.

THE idea of decency’s gone out the window,” laments Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown.

“Everyone’s blasé about swearing. It’s gone over the top.”

Hold on. This is a bloke whose act centres on being potty-mouthed. What does he mean?

“There’s a time and a place for it,” insists the 64-year-old from Middlesbrough, who says back in the early 70s he was a novelty when he turned the air blue on stage. He’s even got a criminal conviction for whacking a Glaswegian with a golf brolly, after the fan vent his spleen at the 19-stone comedian in 2003.

“I got fined £200 and even had to buy him a new T-shirt to replace the one I ripped,” complains Chubby, who insists the abuse went way beyond ripe banter.

“There’s no justice.”

Ah, Glaswegians ... what about the incident at the Clyde Auditorium last year, when he stormed off stage, furious with being heckled?

“I don’t mind being called names, but they were there to cause trouble.

“They spoiled it for all the fans who had paid to see me. But I’ve been invited back to the Clyde in December.”

So what can the punters expect when Chubby dances his famous jig at Oxford’s New Theatre on Tuesday – a venue he claims is a nightmare to find your way around?

“I always like to look through the newspapers and get my pen out,” says Chubby, who describes himself as a “lads’ mag sort of fella”.

“I think ‘can I make that funny?’ And then little jokes just come into my head. I’m going to be talking about MPs’ expenses, Madonna trying to adopt kids, Jordan and Peter Andre, that sort of thing.”

Off stage, Chubby – real name Royston Vasey (the moniker given to the village in The League of Gentlemen) – says he’s a far cry from his leather helmet-wearing alter ego, who has been seen by 1.5million people over the years.

The former ukelele band leader often unwinds by playing rag time and blues on the piano.

“I also get on the treadmill at the gym because I’m not as fit as I used to be,” he adds. “However I’ve got no health panics.”

That’s despite being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2002, which he overcame thanks to surgery, determination and the care of his wife and family.

“And yet I’ve never smoked in my life,” he says.

“So that stuff about smoking causing cancer ... well, I’m sure it’s not the main cause.

“Anyway, I’m going to keep doing what I do as long as I enjoy it.”

Talking of golf umbrellas, the big man’s been known to enjoy a swing on the fairway.

So what’s his handicap?

“My clubs!” he chortles. Boom boom!

Tickets are priced at £19.50 and available from the box office 0844 847 1585 or online www.newtheatreorg.uk