A long-serving journalist who once interviewed an actor as he was taking a bath has retired from the industry after 46 years.

Martin Dawes joined the Sheffield Star in 1977 as a feature writer and now writes three columns, including a weekly restaurant review.

He started out in journalism as a school-leaver in 1964 at the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News in his native Norfolk.

Martin, pictured with a portrait of him by Rolf Harris, retired from the Sheffield Star on Friday although he will continue to write his restaurant reviews on a freelance basis.

After working in Norwich, Martin later joined the East Grinstead Observer, Brighton’s The Argus and the now defunct Sunday Independent, based in Plymouth, before joining the Star.

It was while working for the Sunday Independent that his most memorable time in journalism took place – when he interviewed actor Warren Mitchell, who played Alf Garnett in sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, while he was taking a bath at a Torquay hotel.

Martin said: “He had obviously forgotten about the interview but he saw me in the foyer and said I had better interview him in his bath.

“So I sat on the toilet with the lid closed and interviewed him. He asked me to pass the soap which I did.”

He said goodbye to readers in his final Diary column, which he has been writing for 16 years, where he recounted some of his highlights at the Star and he was also interviewed on Radio Sheffield on his last day.

Martin said: “I like to think that I have made a living out of ideas which are turned into stories. When I see my name in the paper, I always get a buzz.”

Deputy editor Paul License said: “He is brilliant. He is pretty much a Mr Sheffield. Everyone knows him, everyone respects him, he has a great contacts book.

“He is a fantastic journalist of the old school. He is a tremendous example.

“We are delighted that he is going to continue his restaurant reviews for which he is justly famous.”