On April 15, 1984, the watching world saw comedy legend Tommy Cooper die on stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London while appearing on live television. One of those viewers sitting at home in front of the telly, with his dad, was 13-year-old Damian Williams. Little did the teenager realise he’d one day appear on stage, playing the Fez-wearing star, and attracting awesome reviews.

Williams is currently touring with The Last Laugh, a play which features an imagined dressing room sharing between Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse.

The memories of the death of Cooper over 40 years ago still burn bright. “When we saw him collapse on stage we didn’t know what happened,” the actor recalls. “But this was the days of Ceefax, so we turned it on and discovered the reality. He adds: “I’ve since found out that the girl who put Tommy’s cloak on him at the final moment was so traumatised she gave up the business straight after.”

Cooper, the six-feet four-inch magician whose every bone in his body was funny has since featured episodically in the performance life of Damian Williams. “I heard a few years ago that producers were looking for someone to play Tommy, and they couldn’t find anyone,” says the Essex-born actor. “It was a friend of mine who asked if they’d seen Damian Williams, and they had no idea who I was. Anyway, I auditioned and was literally offered the part before I’d left the building.”

The show is on at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow (Image: PAMELA RAITH) Willams........

© Herald Scotland