FROM fighting for survival in the tough docklands of Merseyside to starring at Nashville's Grand Ole Oprey.

It's been a long, strange journey for much-loved Scouse country singer Charlie Landsborough.

As he arrives at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth tomorrow night midway through his latest UK tour, he can reflect on a life that began light years away from the glamour of showbusiness.

In fact, as a youngster Charlie was frequently in trouble and would often find himself sleeping with the family dog as a punishment.

Despite this, he seems to have remarkably fond memories of a challenging childhood living in a household of 11 children and countless animals.

In addition to the dog there were cats, budgies, chickens and even, for a time, a monkey.

The creature arrived one day under the coat of Charlie's elder brother Harry - an illicit souvenir from a trip with the Navy to West Africa.

The wretched animal had been one of many monkeys taken aboard by the crew and had survived despite an order from the Captain that it should be dumped over the side.

Harry had managed to hide it in his cabin keeping it drunk on rum and aspirins for the entire trip.

"It was never really very well after that," recalls Charlie. "The poor thing was an alcoholic and a drug addict by the time it arrived at our house."

It's a typical Landsborough story told with the kind of humour and warmth that has helped endear him to his many fans.

As a singer on the national stage Charlie hasn't been around that long. He spent years in the Army and worked variously as a driver, store manager, engineer and school teacher while singing in pubs in the evening.

His first hit came when, at the age of 52, his song What Colour Is The Wind went straight to the top of the Irish charts. Since then he's never looked back.

Sellout tours of the UK, Australia and New Zealand have been interspersed with more sellout shows at the prestigious Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

He was recently nominated as best Global Country Artist in the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville.

His latest tour coincides with a new studio album recorded in Southern Spain and comprising a collection of new songs alongside some old favourites. It is joined by two further CDs - a long-awaited Christmas collection and an album featuring stories and repartee told as only Charlie can.

These are available at shows on the current tour.

For tickets and further information about Charlie Landsborough's concert at the Pavilion Theatre on October 31 call 0870 111 3000.