Try to think of a James Bond villain's name, and chances are you'll come up with Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

It's such an ideal name for a baddie it sounds like it must have been made up, but 007 author Ian Fleming's books may sound made up, but that surname was, it is rumoured, copied from the father of famous cricket commentator Henry Blofeld.

The 69-year old, whose one-man show The Loves And Laughs Of Henry Blofeld, is on at the Customs House in South Shields next Monday, explained: "Ian Fleming knew my father when they were at school together at Eton. He took our name as his most famous villain."

This, as you soon find out though, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his vault of fantastic stories.

Now regarded as a British institution, thanks to such programmes as Radio 4's Test Match Special, Blowers, as he was dubbed by his late colleague Brian Johnston, admits it took him a while to hone his idiosyncratic style of cricket commentary.

"I started in 1972. I love talking, but I was terrible in those days," he laughed. "None of it made any sense. Why they ever employed me, I don't know."

Asked as to why the public came to love his famous rambles on everything but the cricket he was supposed to be reporting on, he replied: "Butterflies, helicopters, double-decker buses, cakes – they are all around, and I do like to set the scene for the listeners."

He also, much to their delight, frequently gets cricketers' names wrong, such as referring to England spinner Monty Panesar as Monty Python.

"I never mean to, but people don't seem to mind," he said. His verbal flights of fancy, coupled with his plummy accent, have made his touring show a resounding success up and down the country.

Audiences have lapped up tales of his peculiar upbringing in Norfolk, Etonian schooling and doomed attempt at being something big in the City.

"I also take the mick out of myself quite a lot," he laughed. "To have a real sense of humour, you have to be able to laugh at yourself."

That ability to put a positive spin on things make him appear much younger than his age, and he seems justly proud of an itinerary that would tire a man half his age.

"I've done 130 one-man shows in the past year, and on May 30, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, there will be a special show called 70 Not Out, in which lots of people such as Viv Richards and Stephen Fry will get up and talk about me."

He has no intention of quitting the commentary box as yet, and, as Radio 4 listeners know, he still holds many contentious views on the way the game is going.

"I'm commentating on three test matches against Australia in the Ashes. Australia are probably the better side," he said.

"I think 20-20 is excellent as it brings in the crowds, and the Indian Premier league has done a lot of good as it's a lot more fun than 50-innings cricket, which can be a bit boring."

Does he prefer these new additions to the game to traditional test cricket then?

"No. Test cricket is an examination. One-day cricket is an exhibition," he answered.

With such a wealth of cricketing stories to hand, fans of the game are in for a great time, and he is excited about visiting the region again.

"I'm looking forward to a great audience in South Shields. I was there about one and a half years ago, but this is a new show," he said.

"I talk about a one or two amazing test matches, such as that one at Headingley in 1981 when Ian Botham hit 149 and Bob Willis took eight for 43 runs.

"I've met some great characters, Don Bradman, Colin Milburn, Gary Sobers and Viv Richards, who is a great friend. I've been so lucky I have met so many."

When asked the $64m question as to who was the best cricketer he has ever seen, he named Gary Sobers, adding: "He was four cricketers in one."

For women out there fearful of being dragged along to listen to a man talking about other men hitting a ball with a stick, Henry had this to say: "Ladies shouldn't think it's just about cricket.

"Of the two hours, not much more than 15 minutes of it is about cricket. There are lots of stories about a broad range of subjects.

"I talk about Ian Fleming. I knew him very well, and it was at his house, called Goldeneye, in Jamaica, that I met and had lunch with Noel Coward, who was wonderful.

"I also talk about my friend Clive Dunn from Dad's Army."

He also lets fly on a range of subjects that raise his hackles.

"I'm a grumpy old man," he laughed. "I loathe wine waiters who pour too much wine into your glass, so you drink quickly, and then expect you to buy three bottles.

"I hate the nanny state and the European Union with a passion."

* His Customs House show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12, £10 for concessions, or £20 for a meal deal including a two-course dinner.

The Gazette has a meal deal available for one lucky couple. To be in with a chance of winning, answer this question – which pal of Henry's wrote the 007 books?

E-mail your answer, with a daytime telephone number, to us via this link by 4pm tomorrow.