The graveyard of stars is about to welcome another soul as a renowned drag acts throws away her frocks and disappears for ever.

For 12 years, Cher Travestie has entertained mainly gay audiences with send-ups of singers ranging from Boy George to Pavarotti.

Now the popular performer is preparing to take her final curtain call before shedding the leopardskin, scraping off the make-up and reappearing as Jason Wood, an up-and-coming mainstream comedian already being called "the new Julie Walters".

Jason, 30, will become Cher Travestie for one last time tonight at a charity bash at the Revenge club in Brighton.

Although the comic now lives in London, his character Cher was born in Brighton and Hove and he wanted her to take her final bow in the city.

He says his future now lies far from the pubs and clubs where Cher Travestie lived - in the world of BBC light entertainment.

Jason said: "I never envisaged performing as anything but myself. I sort of fell into drag with it being such a big thing in Brighton but I always wanted to come out of it and go mainstream.

"Drag limited me. I didn't want to be the next Lily Savage.

"I will still be doing a lot of impersonations and will of course continue to be very camp but I'll be doing a lot more stand-up."

Jason, who has written a sitcom which has been optioned by the BBC, created Cher Travestie after moving to Brighton aged 18.

He later moved to London but continued to perform in Brighton each week.

He said: "Working pubs is very difficult but it was a great way to learn. I had pints of beer thrown at me but just had to keep going.

"Now I'm in theatres where everyone is seated. It's like I have died and gone to heaven."

Tony Chapman, of Revenge, said: "Jason is a very talented performer, a brilliant act and will be missed at Revenge.

"He is very popular. When he is appearing at the club we are always very busy."

Jason, as Cher, will line up alongside guests including Sandra, Titti La Camp, Lola Lasagne and Phil Starr at Revenge tonight. All money raised will be split between St John Ambulance, MacMillan Nurses and the Battersea Dogs Home.

Admission is £5 from 10.30pm to 2am.