Skinner's pride at joining Walk of Stars

Picking up his award at Birmingham's Jongleurs club, the comedian said it meant more to receive an accolade in the West Midlands and he was in great company.

"It will always be home and I have a lot of friends and family still in these parts," he said. "I have the freedom of Sandwell, which entitles me to drive my sheep through Oldbury town centre and walk through West Bromwich with my sword unsheathed.

"This is yet another honour. I am in great company with the likes of Ozzy Osborne, Bomber Brown and Noddy Holder, who is even more Black Country than me. I am genuinely chuffed to receive the star."

Skinner was presented with his award following a comedy talent show, won by 33-year-old West Bromwich comedian Lou Chawner, at the weekend.

Born Chris Collins in West Bromwich's Hallam Hospital, Skinner was raised as a Catholic in a council house in Bristnall Hall Road, Oldbury, by his parents John and Doris.

He attended Moat Farm Infant school, St Hubert's RC and Oldbury Technical secondary school before graduating from Birmingham Polytechnic – now Birmingham City University – with a BA in English, followed by a Masters at the University of Warwick.

At 17 the comic was employed at Smethwick-based Chances Glass, working with his mother, and spent four years as an English lecturer at Halesowen College. He was a late bloomer, hitting the comedy circuit at the age of 30.

Despite moving to London in 1991, Skinner is still a Black Country boy at heart.

His sister Nora and brothers Keith and Terry still live locally and he has a season ticket for the Albion, rarely missing a match. He believes supporting a so-called "yo-yo" club has its advantages.

"The great thing about supporting the Albion is that it is exciting each season," he said. "I am a really positive fan.

"I can be watching us lose three-nil and I still think we'll win .

"I sit with Adrian Chiles right on the half-way line and he is quite the opposite.We could be winning three-nil and he still thinks we'll lose.

"We sit there light and dark, yin and yang."

True to form he is looking forward to the new season and is excited about new manager Roberto di Matteo. He said: "You have to be optimistic when someone new starts. Apparently the first thing he did when he joined the club was have an espresso machine installed in his office which is possibly the most Italian thing I have ever heard.

"I go to The Hawthorns to watch the Albion, not Premiership football. In a way playing in the Championship is better, at least I get to see them win some games."

Earlier this year, he said that if the Baggies stayed up he would propose to girlfriend Catherine.

When asked whether he would be popping the question if they are promoted this season, he jokes: "Maybe if we stay up in the Championship".

Skinner was in Birmingham last week, watching the Ashes at Edgbaston, when he learnt about the death of Albion legend Sir Bobby Robson. He said: "I felt sick to the stomach when I heard the news.

"He was playing for the Albion before my time, but was a real legend. I doubt there is football fan anywhere that didn't feel a sense of loss."

Although living full time in London, Skinner keeps a flat in Harborne for matchdays.

He has recently returned to stand-up and says that he misses the days when he had regular spots at clubs in Bearwood and Kings Heath.

He said: "You would see the same people week after week and could develop a real rapport, bringing in in-jokes from three weeks ago that everyone would get. It really was a joyous experience."

Skinner said he is lucky in that he has never experienced stage fright. However, meeting his hero Jeff Astle for the first time did bring him out in a cold sweat.

He said: "We were driving to see him at his house in Burton upon Trent and the closer we got, the more and more nervous I became.

"As it turned out he was an amazing guy and we ended up becoming really good friends. I was even godfather to his granddaughter."

Jeff joined Skinner and comedy partner David Baddiel in cult TV show Fantasy Football League.

Despite the success of the show he said there is no plan to resurrect it for the next World Cup. But he described it as a dream job. He said: "Sitting with your mate having a laugh and talking about football, it just doesn't get any better than that."