PLAYING his favourite role at one of his favourite theatres - what more could a theatrical superstar ask for?

For Timothy West, in a seaside treat to relish, is returning to Blackpool's Grand Theatre next month to appear as Falstaff in Henry IV Parts One and Two.

He is a real fan of the theatre and made sure he attended its re-opening after it was saved from permanent closure in the 1980s.

Timothy told the Citizen: "The Grand is a beautiful building and as with all Victorian theatres it is pleasure to work in."

Timothy's first experience of the Grand was when he was a young and struggling actor in 1961.

He said: "I was in a farce there and we had to perform two shows on Christmas Day, but I didn't mind that at all because it was a welcome escape from my freezing cold digs."

Now an established world-class Thespian, Timothy is delighted to be returning to Blackpool, especially in Shakespeare's formidable Falstaff - the greatest comic creation in literature.

He said: "I played Falstaff a long time ago and have always been surprised at how he manages to get away with all the things he does.

"He just has so much authority."

This production will mark a first for Timothy West, however, in that it is his debut stage performance alongside his son, Samuel, who is playing Prince Hal.

He explained everything is going well on the nationwide tour, free of offstage family feuds between them - so far.

The two plays, Henry IV Parts One and Two, will be performed from December 4-7 and there will be a marathon, with both plays in succession, on December 7.

Booking information is available on 28372.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.