JIM Davidson makes a confession he's never revealed to anyone.

 

The comedian lied to millions of viewers on national television.

"It was when I was on Question Time a couple of years ago," he says.

"I went on with an idea of what I was going to say about the issues of the time.

"But while I was on the panel, I looked around and saw all these people looking at me. And I realised if I told them what I really believed they would hate me."

He adds, smiling and haking his head almost in disbelief; "As a result, I lied and said I didn't agree with much of what Margaret Thatcher had done.

"I didn't think she should have closed the mines or anything like that and went on to sound all liberal. Of course, I was speaking total b*******s."

The fact the comedian, now in Glasgow with his adults-only panto Sinderella 2 is honest about his dishonesty certainly highlights another side to his character.

"I want to be loved," he admits. "I don't want people to hate me. Who does?"

Jim Davidson admits he had horrendous problems coping during the year of his life when he was arrested as part of the police investigation Operation Yewtree.

"Can you imagine what that was like having it hanging over your head?," he says, rhetorically.

"I knew I was home and dry. I'd always known I was completely innocent. I knew I had done nothing. But it wasn't until one girl had her solicitor write asking for money for 'compensation' I knew the game was up for her."

The period since however has seen the son of a Glaswegian re-think his life.

"I've been working for Care After Combat," he says of his duties as Chairman of the charity which supports combat veterans.

"I'm one of these people who can't stand not to be doing something, so I got involved with this charity that works to help soldiers get back into society.

"We recognise you can't go from fighting and killing to leading an ordinary life. And it's not surprising these blokes often turn to drink."

Jim Davidson answers phones, steers the soldiers in the right direction.

"They get a surprise sometimes to hear me on the phone, but that's great," he says, grinning.

Jim Davidson has reinvented himself in the eyes of the public, thanks to his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.

But it's certain he'll continue to challenge public perception. For example, he's written a hugely poignant play about an ageing comedian suffering from Alzeheimers.

"Ronnie Corbett read it and loved it, even though he didn't know I'd written it," he says.

"However, the problem is he he says he can't perform it on stage, because he won't be able to remember all the lines.

"What kind of irony is that?"

Jim Davidson is philosophical about his career; he's been a top comedian for forty years, yet can't play the huge stadium gigs.

"I've met people like Jimmy Carr and John Bishop recently," he says. "They were nice to me, although I didn't feel part of their world.

"But what I'd love is to do one of these bug stadium gigs with a load of the newer comics and just see how an audience reacts.

"I think I could hold my own."

Meantime, he's enjoying his Sinderella role. "My Buttons is the naughty schoolboy I once was," he says.

"But the amazing thing is, he doesn't cause too much offence. For example, I apologised to two elderly ladies at the show the other night, suggesting it was a bit too naughty.

"They just laughed and said they loved it."

He adds, grinning; "Maybe the times are changing. Maybe people realise it's all right to love me after all."

* Sinderella 2, The Pavilion Theatre, until March 21.