A popular comic who is returning to headline next summer's Cromer Pier show is backing the search to find local talent to star alongside him.Keith Simmons appeared in the Seaside Special four times with brother Alan in the 1980s and 1990s.

A popular comic who is returning to headline next summer's Cromer Pier show is backing the search to find local talent to star alongside him.

Keith Simmons appeared in the Seaside Special four times with brother Alan in the 1980s and 1990s.

Next year, he is back topping the bill with son Ben - and has given his full backing to a pioneering competition aiming to find a variety entertainer to join the cast.

Norfolk Find a Star will see a local act - who could be anything from a singer to a speciality act - chosen to appear in the 2009 Seaside Special.

The Simmons Brothers found success on the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks in the mid-1970s, and Keith is a fan of talent shows - as well as praising the Cromer show for being the ideal nurturing ground for people to hone their variety skills.

“It is a wonderful opportunity, and a chance

for an act to get training in other skills because the Cromer show gets all the

cast involved in sketches, singing and dancing,”

he said.

Mr Simmons, who last appeared in the Cromer show 10 years ago but wrote some of this summer's comedy sketches, said he was looking forward to returning with his son Ben, 30.

Commercial and operations director Rory Holburn said Cromer Pier was the home of live variety and was keen to play its part in developing that role.

“Everybody else has abandoned variety - TV destroyed it by burning up artists with its exposure -

but people are turning back to live shows because they are bored by constant

repeats and want to come

out to see stage entertainment.”

The talent show was a good way of tapping into that talent in Norfolk - which was good for the pier, variety and the careers of the entertainers, he added.