IT is the end of an era.
The legend that is Dorothy Paul has appeared in her last ever show. And as she waved farewell to the sold-out audience at the King's Theatre in Glasgow, her eyes filled with tears.
Yes, the lady from Dennistoun in Glasgow's East End has had several 'retirements' in the past, but this time, sadly, it is for keeps.
"I've loved entertaining the audiences in my one-woman show these past 23 years darlin', but there have been times when I've looked out there and the memory has gone. Blank.
"Thankfully, it's always come back, but it's a really scary situation to be in and I think it's time to quit before I find myself standing up there on stage feeling lost."
Over the years, from her early appearances on STV's The One O'Clock Gang to her stints in variety, Paul continually reinvented herself and was hugely successfully.
The one-time biscuit factory worker-turned soprano re-emerged in the Eighties as a powerful actress in stage cult The Steamie and went on to appear in TV soap drama.
And when acting work was thin on the ground she came back with her own one-woman show. "I was struggling so much at one time I was eating the grapes off the wallpaper," she quips. "But I've had a great career, don't you think so?"
There is no doubt. And the 76-year-old has been a trailblazer for Scots comedy stars such as Elaine C. Smith and Karen Dunbar. The comedy star has set the benchmark for success which others have worked to reach.
"Well, I like to think I've made people laugh," she says, her voice filled with emotion.
"And at least I've finished on a high, in the biggest theatre in town and packed with people laughing. And it's been lovely."
The sadness in Paul's voice, however, dissolved into laughter as she could not resist going out on a comedy note.
"The feet are too sore to stand on a stage now, darlin'," she said, her face beaming. "It's time to put them up for a while."
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