HE’s a British institution who has enjoyed 60 years in the limelight.

Actor, tap dancer and presenter Lionel Blair will be the special guest at this year’s Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards.

The audience at the sold-out event on Friday, January 30, will be treated to anecdotes from Blair’s time working alongside some of the biggest names in TV, film and music, including late best friend Sammy Davis Jnr.

The all-singing, all-dancing family entertainer will reveal secrets from his varied career, which has taken in everything from Royal Variety Performances to Give Us A Clue, from Celebrity Big Brother to Extras and from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the Edinburgh Festival, via the odd Shakespeare play.

The 83-year-old guest of honour is set to join the comperes – the Daily Echo’s Ian Murray and Lorelei Reddin – on stage at the glittering event at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.

He will open the golden envelopes to reveal the winners of each of the 37 prizes, including the coveted Production of the Year.

Guests might even get to dazzle their dance idol as they strut their stuff at the popular after- party.

The annual event, which has been running for 15 years, celebrates the very best in amateur dramatics in Hampshire and beyond and has been dubbed the Oscars of the south.

Previous special guests have included Vicki Michelle of ’Allo ’Allo and I’m A Celebrity fame, Eastender John ‘Nasty Nick’ Altman and Bond girl and Carry On star Valerie Leon.