WORDS: By Suzi Dixon

From scifi scally to soap star to superstar DJ. You can certainly say Craig Charles is versatile!

But for the last few years he's been known and loved best as a purveyor of the finest funk and sophisticated soul, one of the BBC’s most popular DJs.

And, for the past 18 months, the only place in Bournemouth that you can feel his vibes live is Canvas on Poole Hill, tomorrow being his only summer gig on the South Coast.

As for Mr Charles - @CCfunkandsoulclub on Twitter - he's an enigmatic figure who doesn’t do interviews. Indeed, he can promote his gigs on his radio show. And why should he answer inane questions about Red Dwarf or Coronation Street when he is building the Funk and Soul Club brand?

After all, it's worlds away from a geeky comedy or frothy soap. People want to see Craig Charles for the music, not the myths.

But yet, there is more. He started his career as a performance poet, a passion he indulges in from time to time to this day.

In a rare interview with Northern Soul magazine, he said festivals were still on his agenda, too. “Some festivals I enjoy and stay there, like at Glastonbury where we have our own campsite,” he said. “I curate the Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival and that’s near my birthday and my brother-in-law’s birthday so I stay there but sometimes it can be two or three a weekend so I tend to come and go.”

Musical genius or not?

Come meet the man himself and make up your own mind. Only a few tickets remain for tomorrow’s gig at Canvas. See canvasbournemouth.com for details.