AS A life-long admirer of Roger Whittaker,I really looked forward to his new tour having enjoyed his show 15 years ago. But that's where reality and surrealism become somewhat blurred.

I remember a great singer with some of the best lyrics across the decades, someone who sang the songs for us all to sing along to.

However, while the lyrics were still there,the voice sadly was not.

What was once a smooth, sexy voice is now a straining cross between talking and vague melody.

Whittaker first arrived on stage to a loyal audience of around 250 people,that in itself must be an insult to an icon used to playing to packed houses across the world.

We genuinely thought that he had a throat infection but, following a chat to members of his team,it would appear that this is "now the norm due to his age".

I do not buy this at all. Many singers are still wowing their fans and at the same time growing old gracefully.

I was embarrassed for the band, who did an excellent job trying to keep the show together and provide some real music.

Backing singer Julie McKenna had the hardest job of the night trying to harmonise with Whittaker,but somehow managed to keep the music flowing against all the odds.

There has to be a time when even the world's greatest legends have to realise that it is better to walk away at the top of their career than suffer the humiliation of people walking out mid-show, as sadly happened last tonight.

Updated: 11:04 Saturday, June 04, 2005