Actor and broadcaster Nicholas Parsons steps on stage at Malmesbury Carnival at the weekend.

The 86-year-old former presenter of TV’s Sale of the Century, who still presents Radio 4’s Just a Minute, will be performing a one-man show about the remarkable life of English poet Edward Lear.

Lear, born in 1812, is best known for his limericks and nonsense verse such as The Owl and the Pussycat.

Mr Parsons has performed the show for ten years around the world as well as on BBC Radio.

He told the Gazette:

“He went through so much difficulty and hardship but survived to create some of the most wonderful verse and drawings.

“His work is well known and loved around the world. We don’t always make a fuss over our literary giants but he is renowned in America, he has a huge following there.”

Mr Parsons performs the poems from memory, rather than reading them out.

He said. “People sometimes think the show is designed for children but it’s actually a very adult show, although I think children can certainly enjoy it.”

Mr Parsons was introduced to Lear’s work by his father who read his nonsense verse. “In the late 60s I was asked to perform his work to music and I realised how wonderful it was. I started to think how I could create a stage show,” said Mr Parsons.

Lear survived epilepsy, asthma and bronchitis as well as partial blindness and depression in later life to settle in Italy where he died aged 75.

How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear will be performed in Malmesbury Town Hall at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Tickets are £12 from Malmesbury Rocks.