NOW, we all know about the chicken, but why did the journalist cross the road?

To get to the other side…and the safety of his car to escape the clutches of a madcap master of mirth.

I had just had an audience with Will Barrow to learn about the top award he has just collected – but more about that later.

At this stage I have to declare an interest: Will is Cousin Harold’s lad and has been making ‘em laugh all across the globe.

I had two options available to me: I could opt for a telephone interview, which would take all of 15 minutes to conduct.

Or I could pop around to his home in Nutgrove for a quick chat.

The latter was my choice. Big mistake!

Three hours later, with my sides sore, I was heading for that escape route.

I can’t honestly say my sides were sore just with laughing.

The right side was…and fit to burst.

But the left side…well that might have had a lot to do with choosing to share the sofa with Will. I have the bruises to prove it.

They say where there’s a will there’s a way.

Well, this Will has an uncanny way of delivering a rat-a-tat burst of funnies guaranteed to have the most sober among us clutching at our sides.

Trouble is, he also has a talent with his right elbow for delivering a rat-a-tat warning that you are about to be entertained any time soon.

As I was seated just within range…well, that had lots to do with my sore left-hand side.

And I thought they were supposed to be rib-ticklers!

Why do divers go off boats backwards?

If they went forwards they’d still be in the boat!

Sorry, that was one of mine – and it is surprising how, when rubbing shoulders with a truly funny guy, there is that temptation to compete. At least it brought a smile to his face. Or was it a wince?

Will was too polite to explain, but I doubt he will find a slot in his act for that one.

He has been wise-cracking his way around the world for 30 years now, though he started his showbiz life as a musician who accompanied many top-line artistes before deciding to go solo.

Our picture shows him on stage at Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas.

“And that was some experience, because I’ve never been there; it’s just wishful thinking. It’s amazing what you can do with a computer,” said joker Will as I dry my tears of laughter and try not to groan too much at the pain in my left side – and right.

He has also sailed the seven seas and goes down a storm with laughter-seekers aboard the armada of cruise liners.

Add corporate events and after dinner speaking into the mix, and Will proves his versatility at making people crack up.

He has just been voted the comedy entertainer of the year by the Midlands Concerts Secretaries Society with the Golden Microphone Award as their tribute to him.

I went to a wedding the other day and said to the guy next to me “Isn’t the bride ugly!” He snapped ‘Hey, that’s my daughter you’re speaking about.’ I said “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were her father.” He said ‘I’m not, I’m her mother.’ That’s a little gem from Will, the cheeky chappie who is proud of his Mr Clean image.

“My act is all about being able to make people laugh simply by being funny,” said Will.

Of course, I agreed…even though I was by this time nursing my left side and feeling a great deal of sympathy for it.

Having heard three hours of his repertoire, I can honestly say he would not be out of place in the pulpit in any of the churches around St Helens.

In fact, that might be giving local priests and vicars an idea on how to boost their congregations… Make ‘Em Laugh!