HE was the rubber-face of the 1980s who inspired a host of comedians.

Now, after 40 years in the entertainment business, the time has come for Phil Cool call it a day once and for all.

The 64-year-old impressionist and funnyman, who is set to retire from national touring, is bringing The Final Curtain Tour to the Albert Halls, Bolton, on Friday, March 1.

He said: “I’ve done the Albert Halls, probably about six times over the years.

“It’s the last tour I’m doing ever, that’s why it’s called The Final Curtain.

“I love performing in theatres, I absolutely love it but it’s the travelling.

“I’m up and down like a yo yo, a human yo yo you might call me.

“And with the traffic being as bad now, it’s worse than it’s ever been.”

Reaching retirement age this April is another reason Phil has decided to call it a day, although the Chorley-born comedian still plans to work locally and write material.

He said: “I write songs and I’ll never give up doing that, I write funny songs, I write serious songs.

“I’ve just written my autobiography, which hasn’t been printed yet.

“It was hard work to get it so factual. It’s not an in-depth autobiography, I don’t speak about my family much.

“It’s just really a tale to tell my children and my grandchildren and anybody that’s interested in how I made it and how difficult it was in the beginning.

“Then one thing led to another. I had a good career and I want to explain to people how it was.”

In 1984, he became one of the voice artists for the satirical show Spitting Image, impersonating Boy George, Holly Johnson and Mick Jagger.

He said: “I got chosen to do a few voices but I didn’t like it because I had to hang round in a room waiting for my turn.”

A member of staff from the show would come and ask each of the waiting comedians, including Harry Enfield and Steve Coogan, to demonstrate their impression before choosing the best for the show.

It was during his time on Spitting Image that a producer for the BBC spotted him and got him work on Pebble Mill at One, which led to his own shows.

With award-winning series and specials in the 1980s and 90s, including Cool It and Cool Head, Phil and his legendary rubber face was the toast of television.

His ability for face-pulling sees him doing impressions of everything from a car to the Aquaphibians from Stingray and the first one he ever did — Quasimodo.

Phil, whose son Joe Martin is a singer-songwriter, said: “I first did that when I was about 12. I tried it out in school, in class, in front of the chap that sat next to me.

“It nearly knocked him off his chair. We got called out in front of the class, by the teacher to explain what all the laughter and disturbance was.

“When the teacher’s back was turned, I pulled the face in front of the entire class.

“That culminated in me and my friend getting the cane for mucking around.”

The Big Impression’s Alistair McGowan says it was Phil who “most inspired me to do impressions” while Dead Ringers impressionist Jon Culshaw recollects that “Cool It was unmissable. On so many occasions Phil was the reason I missed doing my A level homework”. Speaking of inspiring the then comedians of the future, Phil said: “It makes me feel I’ve done something worthwhile. That I’ve had that effect on young people. To say they probably wouldn’t have been doing it if it hadn’t been for me, because I was so different to everyone else in the 80s.

n Tickets cost £15 and the show starts at 8pm on March 1. To book, visit alberthalls-bolton.co.uk or on 01204 334400.