MUCH-LOVED internet star Old Man Stan is back, starring in a new video celebrating Basildon’s 60th birthday.

As with Stan’s previous efforts, the film adapts a popular song and gives it a distinctly local slant. The latest footage is based around the much-loved Beatles song, When I’m 64.

The video opens with a speech given by MP Lewis Silkin, Minister of Town and Country Planning in 1948, at a public meeting held in Laindon introducing the plans for Basildon New Town.

As well the grumpy puppet pensioner Stan, the video also introduces a number of new characters, including Basildon’s first housewives.

Filmed in Basildon, the video sees Stan on a tour of the highs and lows of the New Town, reminiscing about when he first moved from London’s East End.

Woolworths, the Olympic Village and Depeche Mode are among the cultural references included.

Puppeteer and the voice of Stan, Steve Waters, said: “We decided to make the video after the council’s disappointing 60th celebrations earlier this year.

“It was just the usual stuff, and no one was excited so we decided to do something more.”

Steve, 41, of the Fryth, Basildon, admitted the new video was a bit rude, but said it was all very tongue in cheek.

He said: “It’s a bit ruder. There are no expletives in the song, but there are things going on in the background. There are layers of humour, so you can take what you want.”

He also said the video, which took about two months to shoot, is technically the best the team has put together yet.

More than 25,000 fans have now logged on to hear Stan singing about the highs and lows of Basildon life, via several rewritten pop classics.

The most popular so far is set to Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ 1978 number one, and is called Hit Me With Your Bazzo Stick.

Old Man Stan’s next venture is already being planned, an alternative version of cult song Is this the way to Amarillo, renamed Is this the way to Billericay.

Steve said the team would be looking for local people to take part in the shoot, and anyone who wants to join in should contact them through the website, www.oldmanstan.co.uk