"If I see that you are the guest speaker at any future dinners, I shall endeavour to get myself an invitation." - I Wilson, Deputy Director of Estates (Association of University Engineers).

With his wealth of gags and one-liners, Liverpudlian Barry Roberts is always in demand on the after-dinner circuit.

He began his career as a tv scriptwriter, contributing to such shows as Dave Allen, The Two Ronnies, Spitting Image, News Huddlines, Little and Large and Ken Dodd.

He also worked as a programme consultant for Central TV and ITV Sport.

During his years as a struggling writer, he supplemented his income by working as a fireman and hearse driver.

During the 80's Barry won a BBC Radio Drama award and ghosted books for many sportsmen including Ian St. John, Jimmy Greaves and Tommy Docherty and he has written speeches for many of the country's top sportsmen and celebrities.

During the 90's, he hosted a commercial radio show and appeared on Sky TV, Yorkshire TV and LWT.

His speeches are always topical and, subject to a brief, includes people on the top table.

A highlight of his varied career was a speech delivered to the Oxford Union where he was pitted against Ian Hislop and Stephen Fry.

Corporate clients have included many major Football Clubs, Ford; Toshiba; Vauxhall; Whirlpool; Reebok; Phillips; Banking Institutes and Law Societies.

His largest audience was a thousand Europeans at the Dutch shipbrokers dinner in Rotterdam and the smallest numbered 13.

His latest book - "TravHell", takes a cynical look at the world of travel.