THE Godfather of alternative comedy Alexei Sayle showed there was still plenty of fire in his belly when he brought the house down in Worcester last night.

His Listen with Alexei show started with the 62-year-old bounding on stage in a manic dance but he soon settled down to read a funny passage from his critically-acclaimed autobiography "Stalin Ate my Homework".

However, it didn't take long before he launched into one of his thought-provoking tirades which covered everything from comment books to the service on British Rail in the 70s.

Sayle certainly had an unusual childhood as both his parents were fervent communists.

His readings brought to life growing up in an eccentric household where everything from the Soviet Union was considered better than the West.

His passage about his parents banning him from seeing Bambi, in a protest at Walt Disney and the effect Bambi's mother's death may have on the young Alexei, and instead taking him to see Soviet classic Alexander Nevsky, which includes bloody medieval battles, was both heart rending and hilarious.

But the warmth and love he had for his parents shone through.

Sayle still called on that angry persona and his vociferous delivery was as charismatic as ever but as he himself admitted he has mellowed with age ... a little.

The Scouse comedy legend also read excerpts from his forthcoming book Thatcher Stole My Trousers, which promises to be just as biting and reflective as his "Stalin" work.

After the interval, the larger than life comic took questions from the audience.

The first question: "Who will you vote for?" had him stumped.

The former communist had to ask wife Linda, if he had ever voted. It turns out, only once.

However, he made the most of every question and came up with some great anecdotes and jesty digs at Droitwich's much-missed Rik Mayall, his co-star in the Young Ones and Ben Elton, his alternative comedy contemporary who he freely admits went on to make much more money than him.

Much of the audience didn't realise Sayle had once presented Top Gear before the age of Clarkson, Hammond and May.

He had us in stitches when he recalled his first meeting with Clarkson in 2005 when the now disgraced presenter called out Sayle for an offensive remark he made about him in 1992!

"Well ... there you go," was Sayle's reply.

He ruled out pleas from the audience to present the show once more.

"I'm too old," he said.

Nonsense, on this showing Sayle is as sharp, vital and funny as ever.