Barry Humphries - Barry Humphries Retiring Dame Edna

The 78 year old has thrilled audiences with his drag routine for five decades, but insists he is now too old to don Edna's purple wig and outlandish costumes.

The character's upcoming stage show, Eat Pray Laugh! will be her last.

He says, "Edna will crop up on television I guess, but not in a live show. The fact of the matter is that I'm beginning to feel a bit senior.

"It's the best aerobics you could do, leaping around on stage, but it's gruelling when there are other things to do."

The comic also remembers watching performers who were past their prime and doesn't want to follow suit.

He adds, "It was commented that 'you should have seen him when he was funny'. I want to avoid that being said about me and know that I can't keep doing it."