HOW'S about that then? asks Jimmy Saville, garbed in eastern robe and curly-toed slippers, as he acts as meeter-and-greeter at a new Asian restaurant which opened in North Yorkshire.

The cigar-toting flash-ringed DJ was determined to be there when Saleem Akhtar, proprietor of the £4 million-turnover Jinnah chain opened his latest venture, the Jinnah Spice Club in the tall-ceilinged former Weslyan Sunday School in Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, dominated by two massive chandeliers.

Jimmy said: "A Jinnah in Leeds opened near my home in Roundhay and when I went there they were impressed with my 100 per cent friendliness with everyone and everything. I even pat dogs.

"So they asked me to come down to this place, but they said they couldn't afford me. I told them I would be there for free.

"They gave me this outfit and I stood at the door. The restaurant opposite emptied as they came across to me, so I've done them one favour."

Having fixed it for them, was he pleased with his new clothes? Well, when in an Asian restaurant, do as the Asians do. "You know me," he says, flashing his giant gold and silver rings and waggling his cigar. "I like to dress conventionally."

Updated: 09:23 Tuesday, April 08, 2003