Before the days of ballroom-dancing celebrities and wannabe pop singers, the likes of the Krankies, Paul Daniels and Little and Large dominated Saturday night prime time television.

This summer the old-school comics – with Syd Little minus Eddie Large – will be bringing their end-of-the-pier fun to Bradford, in the Best of British Variety Show.

The show sees a return for Scottish double act the Krankies and magician Paul Daniels, who were on the bill for the first Best of British tour which played to a near sell-out audience at St George’s Hall in 2008.

Other acts on this year’s line-up are Bradford funnymen The Grumble-weeds, Irish singer Dana and host, the irrepressible Christopher Biggins. Syd Little, formerly one half of comedy duo Little and Large, will be appearing for the first time as a solo act.

The Krankies shot to fame in the 1980s on children’s television favourite Crackerjack. Their own television shows included Krankies Club and they released a single, Fandabidozi, in 1981.

On stage they’re Wee Jimmy Krankie, the cheeky schoolboy in blazer, cap and shorts, and his cheery curly-haired dad. Off-stage they’re husband and wife Glaswegians Janette and Ian Tough, who met as teenagers and have been in the business for 40 years.

“We do shows all over the country and we know for certain that there’s a big audience for variety out there,” said Janette. On TV, variety is seen as old-fashioned but viewers don’t get chance to make up their own mind.

“Variety has its roots in the old music halls, that’s the kind of thing that influenced us as young performers. I think audiences need that kind of entertainment these days as much as they did back then.”

The Best of British Variety Show is at St George’s Hall on Thursday, September 23. Call (01274) 432000 from Friday.