March 20, 2012 | Arts / Entertainment

Goodnight possums! Dame Edna to retire

The man behind Dame Edna, Barry Humphries, has announced that it's time to hang up the purple wig. At 78, he would like to spend more time painting and writing.

"Look, the fact of the matter is that I'm beginning to feel a bit senior," he said.

Not that he doesn't still enjoy playing Edna: "I love it and it's healthy for me. It's the best aerobics you could do, leaping around on stage, but it's gruelling when there are other things to do."

The good news: "Edna will crop up on television, I guess, but not in a live show," he promised.

He is currently planning a new stage show, and said it will be the last time to see Dame Edna live. This also means the end of other fan favorites like Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.