Engelbert Humperdinck

Born Arnold Dorsey in Madras

(now Chennai), India, living legend Engelbert, 87, is best known for his string of 60s & 70s hits including Release Me and The Last Waltz

What was your first TV memory?

It was an 8 by 10-inch TV set in a massive cabinet back home in Leicester. I had nine siblings so it was funny to see us all gathered around such a small TV.

Now they’re the size of the wall. I remember seeing Tom and Jerry and Batman in my teens.

Who was your first TV crush?

Jane Russell, whose films were on TV. Later in life I met her and told her I had a big crush on her – she was so nice about it, such a great lady.

What was your first TV appearance? On a show called The Grenadiers on Granada TV when I was known as Gerry Dorsey. I was on for 42 weeks, which made me a bit of a star. My first appearance as Engelbert was Sunday Night At The London Palladium.

What is your favourite current show? I’ve just binge-watched all five seasons of Queen Of The South on Netflix about a woman escaping a drug cartel. I couldn’t stop. I binged Ozark and Cobra Kai.

I love All Creatures Great And Small and Doc Martin too. I’d like to meet that guy.

Which TV show would you take to a desert island?

I’d take movies – Blue Hawaii, a couple of Bond movies, the Carry On films. I love a Western too.

What TV show would you like to put out of its misery?

I can’t do that. Just for me, it’d be the reality shows where they humiliate people.

Guiltiest TV pleasure?

I love watching darts. I’m a pretty good player too. I beat Eric Bristow when he came to Vegas, but he was well-juiced…

What are you up to at the moment?

My new album All About Love is just out and I’ve got a South America tour, so I’m brushing up on my Spanish. I’ll sing half the songs in

Spanish.

● All About Love by Engelbert Humperdinck is out now

GARRY BUSHELL