PATRICK Malahide is a familiar face on our TV screens, perhaps best known as long-suffering Detective Sergeant Chisholm in Minder, in which he starred for five series.

But now he is taking to the stage for the first time in four years, on our own doorstep at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

The actor's long and distinguished acting career has seen him cast in a variety of roles on stage, television and the silver screen.

Recently he has appeared in the successful films Billy Elliot and Captain Corelli's Mandolin and his stage credits include The Tempest, King Lear, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Major Barbara.

Malahide has appeared in many dramatic productions, including BBC costume drama Middlemarch as the Rev Edward Casaubon and as Inspector Alleyn in the BBC series The Alleyn Mysteries.

Other television credits include The Singing Detective, Victoria and Albert, Inspector Morse and Blackadder.

He will star at Bolton as Johnny Silvester, an Irish statesman and father, in Hinterland, from the pen of Irish writer Sebastian Barry.

Out of Joint theatre company presents the premiere of Hinterland in a co-production with the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and the Royal National Theatre.

The production, directed by Max Stafford-Clark, opens in Bolton and then tours to the Abbey Theatre, the Cottesloe Theatre in London, Cambridge Arts Theatre, the Theatre Royal in Bath and Oxford Playhouse. It ends its run at the Liverpool Playhouse from June 11-15.

Malahide's character is a former Irish Prime Minister who is investigated for corruption.

He explains: "The play examines public events in Ireland, power and corruption, how far a leader can go in order to transform a nation.

"Johnny Silvester is considered to be the father of the new Ireland, but in the course of doing so he becomes corrupt and neglects his own family.

"The play takes place when he is 70, at night, when he gets a telephone call from his doctor.

"It's a long night of waiting and looking back on his life, wondering whether his public triumph, and now disgrace, is matched by private tragedy.

"It is a play about an old lion in his lair, a mighty old warrior. It is poignant and also blackly funny."

Skilful make-up turns this strikingly handsome actor into an old man in a role which he describes as "terrifyingly huge".

He is on the stage for the whole of the two-hour production but admits he is looking forward to treading the boards again.

He said: "I think it is very important and refreshing to get back to the theatre. It is four years or so since I was last on stage. One has to go where the demanding roles are.

"It is a wonderful play and Sebastian Barry is really Ireland's leading playwright."

Malahide, born in England of Irish parents, is no stranger to the North West, having worked at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester 20 years ago and at the Liverpool Playhouse.

He says the role will have a "particular emotional resonance" for him as his late mother came from Dublin and he will be playing at the city's Abbey Theatre from January 30-February 23.

"She would have been very proud," he said.

Hinterland is being staged at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, from Thursday, January 17, to Saturday, January 26.

Evening performances start at 7.30pm and there are 2pm matinees on Wednesday 23 and Saturday, January 26. Contact the Octagon box office (01204 520661).