Her Majesty has given a Christmas Day message for more than 50 years - now the Lancashire Evening Post (LEP) is presenting its own special review of 2006.

Steve's "Royle" broadcast has been available on the LEP website since midnight on Christmas Eve - 15 hours before the Queen's message was going out on television and radio to the nation and the Commonwealth.

There were visits to Lancashire during the year by Her Majesty herself and also by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice whose arrival in the county was strongly opposed by some Muslims in Preston and Blackburn.

Freddie Flintoff's England cricket team and their miserable Ashes campaign also - inevitably - get a mention in Steve's look-back.

And the finger of suspicion is pointed at Leeds United after their Deepdale dressing room was trashed following their 2-0 victory over Preston in the Championship play-off semi-final in May.

Steve Royle, from Chorley, has been a regular television "warm-up" comedian, one of his biggest appearances to date being in this year's Royal Variety Performance at the London Coliseum.

He is currently starring in the panto 'Dick Whittington' at Blackpool's Grand Theatre.

"I'm not a massive royalist but I sometimes get caught up in it all and like a bit of pomp and circumstance," said Steve.

See Steve's alternative review of 2006 by clicking on the green icon above right.