After more than four decades of fame, Engelbert Humperdinck shares the secrets of success with Laura Davis

IT’S full-on glitz and glamour in the hotel function room. The technicians are running a sound check and there are people dashing about counting cutlery.

On top of each white clothed dining table, there is a photograph of the guest of honour – Engelbert Humperdinck.

The Royal Variety Club is holding a gala dinner in his honour ahead of his performance at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.

There must be 100 miniature Engelberts here, yet of the man himself there is no sign.

In the meantime, I am introduced to Barry Mason, who penned Humperdinck’s 1967 Number 1 hit The Last Waltz, as well as Tom Jones’s Delilah.

He’s a great man, he tells me, a true professional and a good friend.

This seems to be the general consensus because, when Engelbert does finally come down from his hotel room followed by a full entourage, he is swamped by adoring fans.

Liverpool funnyman Stan Boardman interrupts our interview to envelop the singer in a bear hug, giving him a smacker on each cheek. It is not clear if they have ever met before.

“Men kiss each other in showbusiness,” Humperdinck needlessly explains.

A pyramid of Champagne glasses stands on a table just to his left and, over his right shoulder, comic duo Cannon and Ball are deep in conversation in identical black tie.

It’s a surreal situation for anyone from outside the world of showbusiness, but it’s a long time since Humperdinck was Gerry Dorsey, the apprentice engineer, and it seems to fit him just right.

“It’s amazing,” he says in an unplaceable accent.

“It’s the greatest joy in my life when I’m on stage and I hear the applause.”

Born in Madras, India, as one of British Army officer Mervyn Dorsey’s and his wife Olive’s 10 children, Humperdinck (then Arnold and later Gerry) moved with his family moved to Leicester at the age of 10.

He began singing as a teenager but a period of National Service in the British Army Royal Corps of Signals interrupted his music career.

In 1965, he teamed up with Gordon Mills, the London-based singer-songwriter who was later to become a successful record producer as well as the owner of the world’s largest private zoo.