A STALWART of Inverclyde's seventies music scene who met Nelson Mandela and performed for World Cup winners has returned to the area after decades abroad.

Joe 'Danny' Fisher played with popular local music group 'The New Elastic Band' before he emigrated to South Africa almost 40 years ago.

The band performed at many of Inverclyde's best venues in the 1970s and 80s with an act that blended music and comedy.

The 68-year-old has now come back to his home town to tour locally and see his old friends.

He told the Tele he got the idea to return home during the pandemic.

Joe said: "Lockdown was terrible, especially for the entertainment industry, and it was such a shame not getting to go anywhere.

"I decided I wanted to go back to my homeland and reconnect with everyone.

"I thought I'd take the opportunity to come back and do some gigs while I'm here.

"It's so special to be back in Inverclyde and see everyone again."

Joe says his routine has changed a great deal since he last took to the stage here.

He said: "I do impersonations and back in the day it was all the stars on TV at the time, like Max Bygraves and Frank Spencer.

"But as the years went on I've had to pick up other ones - I'm quite well known over in South Africa for doing Meatloaf.

"It's so good to be back in Inverclyde again and I'm looking forward to performing locally."

Through his entertainment work, Danny has travelled the world on cruise ships and played gigs across the globe.

The impersonator says he has had several 'surreal' encounters during his travels with celebrities who he mimics in his act.

He added: "I met Mandela at an airport shortly after he'd been elected as president.

"He came past everyone and I ended up getting right up next to him.

"It was quite a strange experience because I impersonate him in my show.

"I've also met Billy Connolly on a few occasions - when I was doing a benefit in Glasgow he was in the audience.

"I did an impression of him up on the stage and he gave me a very odd look!

"I've also done a lot of gigs with the South African rugby team who won the 1995 World Cup and other big sports stars over there.

"I was involved with the South African rugby legends association and played quite often for them.

"I'm 68 now and I've got no intention of stopping.

"I want to do as many gigs as I can while I'm here and see as many people as I can."