JULIAN Clary will make his first appearance at the Grand Opera House for 12 years this autumn, hoping for better fortune than on his previous visit to the York theatre.

That November night in 1997, his exotic encore entry went disastrously wrong when, bedecked in a plume of peacock feathers, Julian tripped and crashed to the floor.

Gingerly regaining his feet, he said “Sorry” and gamely finished his Special Delivery show – the one about gay Julian’s desire to have a baby – but he was in all-too-evident pain at the after-show party.

Clary, who turns 50 in May, has lined up a belated return to York on October 21 on his 2009 nationwide tour of Lord Of The Mince. Tickets go on sale at 10am today at £20.

Offering a sneak preview, the bard of the bawdy says: “I, Julian Clary, have done for mincing what Michael Flatley did for Irish dancing. I am not only gay, I’m a renowned homosexual. In this show I’ll probably go on and on about it. I have, after all, breezed through life armed only with a withering look and a sharp retort, and there’s not a lot else I know about.”

Looking forward to venturing north, Julian adds: “In these difficult times I feel I should go and comfort my people in the provinces. My friend Damien tells me the men are very hard up in Sheffield. I only hope I’m not too late.”

Britain’s perennially campest sight promises to bring a pianist with him.

“So there’s a distinct possibility that I might sing,” he warns. “I just felt you should know. Perhaps you’d be better off staying in to watch my new reality TV show Erection! Erection! Erection! On the other hand…”

Dress code is smart but casual, although the usual rules about corduroy trousers still apply, advises Julian.