We caught up with him to find out more, before his appearance at Northwood House as part of Wight Proms and Cowes Week, on Sunday, August 2.
There are limited tickets still available and it promises to be a show not to be missed.
Jasper’s career began in the 1970s so it is apt, although a bit unexpected, to find out he is sharing the stage with tribute band Strictly ABBA.
“They play each half of the show and really lift the atmosphere and set it all up for a really good evening. We come as a package!” he said.
So what else can the audience expect? After all, Jasper is known for songs, comedy, acting and even as one of the team that introduced Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? to the world.
“As far as my material goes, I always say that when I’m on stage I reflect who I am, what I am, where I am and obviously now I’m much older than I used to be!
“Trying to cope in a world which is technical, so I reflect that in the act, attitudes to old age and general stories that have happened to me. You can’t believe how fast life goes.”
The day before this interview, Jasper had been to the memorial of John Lodge, from the Moody Blues.
He spoke about the loss of friends in later life, quipping: “Another sign of getting old, the amount of funerals we go to now, I’ve got a season ticket to the local crematorium.”
Bev Bevan of The Move and ELO is an old schoolfriend of Jasper’s and a former collaborator, and was also at the memorial, and our conversation drifted onto fellow Brummie, Jeff Lynne, ELO frontman.
Lynne had to miss his Hyde Park gig in 2025 due to illness but Jasper said: “He’s OK, I saw him in November. He was talking about bringing out a new album so we will wait and see.”
Reflecting further on old age, Jasper said he is still motivated to keep performing at the age of 81, and joked: “I’m convinced that if I stop working I will die!
“I get an enormous amount of pleasure from it and I am addicted to adrenaline as most performers are. I don’t tour any more, I just do a series of dates with plenty of time in between.
“It’s very touching that people turn up to see me at this age, I think it’s the sympathy vote, people think ‘poor old devil’!”
Jasper’s photo still adorns the wall of the Bonchurch Inn, pictured with Robert Powell while filming The Detectives on the Island in 1995 – an episode called Twitchers.
The other star of that episode was Bill Oddie, who died this week. Jasper said: “That was the first time I met him and we got on famously.
“We had a week on the Isle of Wight, filming every day, and Bill was a real treat to work with. It’s lovely to see the tributes coming out because he really deserved it.”
Jasper has been to the Island several times since and praised St Mary’s Hospital, where his wife ended up once, having been taken ill – “They sorted her out in no time!”
I mentioned that my colleague Stuart Robertson, who works in marketing, had appeared in the famous “There’s only one Jasper Carrott” video back in the early 90s (see video below) and Jasper quipped: “Tell him he’s not getting any more royalties!”
The County Press’s Stuart Robertson, right (Image: YouTube)
His quick wit is bound to be enjoyed by the audience on Sunday. Don’t miss this chance to see a national treasure.
Other events organised by Wight Proms are Wight at the Musicals on Friday, July 31, and Last Wight of the Proms on Sunday, August 9.