Max Boyce's perfect weekend

Welsh icon Max Boyce ditched his career as a coal miner to become a comedian and singer in the 70s. He has sold more than two million albums and plays Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday night (February 18).

It's a Friday afternoon. What's on your mind?

Well it depends really if I'm on tour. If I'm working, I'll tend to be playing at a weekend so I'll be busy with a show.

But if I've got a weekend off, I'll be looking forward to watching a bit of rugby. Normally there'll be a game on a Friday night, like a European match.

I'll be looking forward to Saturday's match, when I watch my local team, Glynneath. We're doing well at the moment, we're towards the top of the second division and looking for promotion to the first.

The band. Again, I'm assuming that I'm on tour and so at the weekend I'll hang out with the band. If I'm not on the road, then I'll be with local friends.

How do you prepare for a big night out?

I wouldn't prepare really, I'd just go along and enjoy myself. If it was a really big do, I'd make sure I didn't go out for two nights before because I wouldn't want to spoil my appetite for a good night.

What's your favourite party outfit?

I'm not one for dressing up really. I'd arrive wearing casual clothes, like jeans and a shirt.

You've just arrived at the bar. What's your first drink?

Beer. I'm a beer man, I only drink beer and wine, never lager.

What's your favourite nightspot and why?

I'm not one for nightspots really. I suppose there's the Beef and Bourbon bar in King's Cross, Sydney, Australia. We've had fantastic nights there.

I only go there every couple of years. We've had brilliant nights there. My photo is up behind the bar.

What tune always gets you on the dancefloor?

I'm not a dancer, but I love The Pogues' Fairytale of New York. If I'm out, I'll always ask a DJ to play that, whatever the time of year.

It's a sunny Saturday. What are you up to?

In the winter, I'll be at the rugby. In the summer, I'll be on the golf course. My handicap is 15.

What was your most memorable weekend and why?

In 1995 I went to see the rugby World Cup in South Africa. To go to South Africa, which both hosted and won the World Cup, was incredible.

On the morning of the match, I woke up on a game reserve in Botswana. The guy who ran it was Welsh and we had everything we could have wanted. We flew up to South Africa and watched them win, then Nelson Mandela handed them the trophy. It was incredible.

After that, everything in South Africa went crazy. I managed to get the last plane out of the country and landed back in London. It all took place in a whirlwind 48 hours.

What's the recipe for a perfect night in?

I would find a film that I really wanted to see, like War Horse. I'd get a good bottle of wine and some selected cheeses. My aim would be to make sure I didn't drink the whole bottle.

Favourite DVD? And what would you eat while watching it?

I'd watch The Green Mile. And my answer is the same as in the last question: I love a good cheese, particularly a bit of stilton.

Sunday breakfast – cooked or continental?

It depends where I've been the night before. If I've been out, then I might have something light.

But I'm a big fan of breakfast and if I haven't been out the night before I'd go for a full cooked breakfast.

Sunday lunch – home cooked or continental?

Home cooked, I love cooking, as does my wife. I enjoy cooking the traditional Sunday roast.

When and how do you like to relax?

Again, I go back to golf. I really enjoy playing. I have so much to worry about my game that I don't tend to worry about anything else.

You've got a whole weekend off and a wad of money in your back pocket – which country or city would you head to?

I think I would go to Sydney. Australia. I'd have lunch in Doyles Seafood Restaurant, overlooking the water to the Opera House, where I've played twice.

I still can't believe I've played there. On the first time, my guest was an unknown girl who'd never worked before.

Her name was Katherine Jenkins.

We'd heard that she wanted to play there so we rang her up and paid her expenses. Afterwards, she got a deal and the rest is history. So, if I could, I'd go back to Sydney, sit across the water from Sydney Harbour and have a seafood lunch with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

* Tickets for tomorrow night's show are available from the box office on 0121 780 3333 or www.thsh.co.uk