WHEN Mark Borkowski applied for a job as press and marketing assistant at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre, he made it clear he had no desire to perform on stage.

Around 26 years later Mark, 45, now a PR pundit and media mogul in London, has changed his tune and is returning to the Wyvern next month as the star of his own show.

During the show, called Son of Barnum: A Stunt Too Far, Mark will reveal his most amusing encounters with the stars, including Graham Norton, Eddie Izzard, Luciano Pavarotti and Sir Cliff Richard.

He said: "The Wyvern gave me a fantastic apprenticeship. I think they gave me the job because I said I didn't want to go on stage. Now I'm coming back in a very different role."

Aged 19, Mark cut his teeth at the Wyvern and soon learned how to place stories in the Evening Advertiser and national newspapers.

A master of the publicity stunt, he whipped up a media frenzy by claiming that a spaceship had gone missing in Swindon, concocting a story about Sooty being attacked by a giant moth and even arranging a marriage on stage.

Surviving on an annual salary of £3,000, with a £50 dress suit allowance, Mark took every chance to rub shoulders with celebrities.

His meeting with Charles Hawtrey, who went on to star in the legendary Carry On films, proved particularly entertaining.

Mark said: "I have seen some funny things over the years but this was perhaps the most bizarre.

"Charles was appearing in the Wyvern panto and had a bit to drink after the show. It was my job to take him home and he insisted on walking."

As he staggered up Victoria Road, Charles stopped to answer a call of nature.

Mark said: "He insisted on going in the street and midway through a policeman pulled up in his Panda car and tapped him on the shoulder. Charles turned round and the bobby said: 'Cor blimey it's Charles Hawtrey. You shouldn't be doing this.' He then offered him a lift home."

After three years in Swindon, Mark decided to head for London as a freelance PR consultant. His first job was promoting cricketer Ian Botham's journey across the Alps with an elephant.

That marked the start of his own company, Borkowski PR, based in London.

Borkowski's clients have included Liza Minelli, Boy George, Michael Flatley and Mikhael Gorbachev.

Most of his customers are more than satisfied with the publicity they receive.

But Pavarotti once turned against Bork-owski. He said: "I was thrown out of my own press conference because Pavarotti took exception to a question a journalist asked about his girlfriend."

Mark still commutes to London on most days from his home near Cirencester, where he lives with wife Mary and their sons Janek and Joe.

Son of Barnum: A Stunt Too Far comes to the Wyvern on September 10. Tickets cost £10. For bookings call: 01793 524481.