Talking with Jenny Eclair as she embarks on the second stage of her Because I Forgot To Get A Pension Extended Tour, leaves me with a wad of references from the comedienne, who said "I am tired of talking about myself so what I say may be true but I may make some things up."

Now in her late 40s and having a 19-year old daughter, Phoebe, Jenny has a new arsenal of material with which to bombard audiences.

She said: "It is not for the easily offended or if you are easily embarrassed.

"It is like being with your mother-in-law when you are out shopping and goes a long way beyond the embarrassing dad disco dancing.

"A young boy under 14 may be put off girls for life – but that may not be a bad thing."

There is an amount of language used in the show which covers many themes, particularly motherhood.

"I am at that empty nest stage when I say 'don't leave, don't leave' and I am left sitting with a man, dreading the moment he says 'let's get out the jigsaws'.

"We have yet to see any boyfriends – they fear coming home with her to see me.

"I am told I am the only mum who phones when she is on the late bus because I am worried.

"I am pacing the kitchen in my nightie at 3am, wondering why she isn't home. I still think of her as a 12-year-old.

"I am really docile and soft as a hammerhead shark but am alright if you catch me in a good mood, which isn't very often."

The reason given for the Pension Tour, a total of 70 shows, is not because she is considering retirement – "I have no plans to retire at any time in the near future. I am sure I will put the money into some investment account you can't touch for 35 years."
In her own words Jenny admitted: "That would be the sensible thing to do.
"In reality I will have a summer holiday and go down the high street to blow it all on a shopping spree."

As team captain of the popular TV series Grumpy Old Women, – "Much better than the Grumpy Old Men show" – she has also taken the show on an international tour.

Asked if there is a difference between her real self and her on-screen persona, she said it does not need a big stretch of imagination, it just comes naturally.

The starting point for all her material comes from observations of life in general but she believes comedy in Britain would die if it became a classless society.

She said: "Comedy is in a healthy state, not waning as some people like to think."

Of the current crop of performers she cites Paul Merton as a class act but puts her inspiration to start performing – as a member of a punk poet band – down to the icon of the genre, John Cooper-Clarke.

She said: "I still admire old stick-leg John, he is timeless."

Born Jenny Hargreaves, she has heard so many stories about her adopted surname, Eclair, which originated at nightclub gig in Blackpool.

She said: "I tried to be French and came out with the name but I have heard so many stories I can't remember the truth.

"It was the '80s and punk was around and people chose silly names, like Poly-Styrene. There may be a Mrs Styrene sitting at home now, wondering why her name had been used."

The first female to win the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival, Jenny is also a talented author, she has several books already published and two more on the way, and is a respected actress who appeared on the West End stage, including a role in Steaming.

Zodiac signs mean little to Jenny but as a pisces, says she is pulled in many directions at once. She describes her ideal typical week as comedy for two days, writing part of a novel for two days, plus some some radio and tv work.

When writing new material, (she is adept at the one-liner gag), she says she writes from the female perspective because it is the easiest and natural thing to do.

Men, accompanied or on the loose, are most welcome to the show which carries the irresistable offer 'buy the first half, get the second half free'.

Talking about the content, she said: "The show will have some cantering.

"It is my answer to going to the gym – you are never too old to canter like a pony.

"I am still very childish, trapped in a playground, and also do a version of kiss-chase, and a lot of other physical stuff like low-level show jumping.

"I have bought a bean bag for this tour to sit on as my ankles get too puffy if I stand up too long."

Before appearing at a theatre Jenny does like to do some research and throw in some local references, such as the worst traffic blackspot in the area, which helps audiences relate to a situation.

She also likes listening to the women as they all tend to know where 'the naughty places' are in the area – and as this is not her first visit to Northampton, beware.

l Jenny is appearing at the Derngate, Northampton, on Tuesday and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £16 and are available from the box office on 01604 624811.