Brian Conley speaks to the Daily Echo about his upcoming starring role in Cinderella at The Mayflower in Southampton later this month

And now as he heads to Southampton in not one but two lavish productions he has told the Daily Echo why he is doing his best work ever.

Several months into a year-long tour with Barnum, he is taking a break to star in Cinderella at the Mayflower from December 13 until January 4 and then returns here next June in the guise of Phineas T Barnum.

Meeting me on a cold, wet afternoon in Southampton, Brian’s exuberant personality lit up the room. He was brimming with excitement despite a day of making TV and radio adverts, doing media interviews, and a lengthy rain-sodden photoshoot.

He told me: “I’m really happy to be back in Southampton.

"Robinson Crusoe was a cracking show last year but it was not a panto. People say Cinderella is the greatest panto of all because it’s a simple story of good versus bad that children can follow. I love playing Buttons because he’s an integral part of the story.”

A panto veteran, Brian has starred in ten productions of Cinderella so far and believes TV stylist Gok Wan will bring added sparkle.

“We have such a laugh. The show really suits him because he has to dress Cinderella for the ball. It all works and I know he’s going to be fantastic.”

Brian revealed the show boasts a hilarious ‘Southampton’s Got talent’, a talking horse, a flying motorbike and “the most amazing pumpkin to carriage transformation.

“The character of Barnum is not a million miles removed from Buttons.

Barnum talks to the audience, he’s cheeky, he’s a charming rogue..that’s the worry, I go out and say ‘Hiya kids my name’s Barnum.. urr I mean Buttons!’”

There will be little time for Brian to rest inbetween the two productions.

“There’s just a few days break before I go into rehearsals but hey, I’ve been doing this for 40 years now.”

For those unfamiliar, Brian explains what Barnum is all about: “It’s a true story. He’s a real character and in his day he was known as one of the most famous men in America. He was a wonderful showman.”

Amazingly this was the first show Brian ever saw in London, many years ago when Michael Crawford starred in it.

It would be impossible to play Barnum without learning circus skills.

Brian Conley in Barnum

“I’ve had to learn a whole new set of skills: juggling, acrobatics, fire-eating – and tightrope walking.”

Brian would even go as far as saying this is the pinnacle of his career.

“I’m so happy I’m in something successful. If I was put in a role where I was plodding around the country on something that wasn’t I would be struggling but it’s such a beautiful show and the whole team works so hard to make it very special and I think it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”

So why does it have that magical quality?

“World famous producer Cameron Macintosh is behind it and he’s not just in it for the money. The guy’s a billionaire. He owns nine theatres in London and he is doing it to prove a point. My opening costume has cost £10,000, you know, there’s not a penny skimped.

“It’s a magical show. Everyone thinks it’s a circus show but it’s a love story too.”

Brian, far right, with the cast of Cinderella, including Gok Wan, second right

Brian describes how walking the high wire becomes symbolic of Barnum’s personal life: he has to walk the wire to reach the lady he loves at the end.

“Since we started the production I’ve lost a stone in weight: I’ve gone from a 34 to 32 inch waist in two months. I do feel fitter because it’s not like losing weight on a diet.”

There have been some nasty injuries already. “I broke a finger and I seriously sprained my ankle and for the first two weeks of rehearsals I was on crutches because I fell eight foot in between the crash mats.

"I thought I’d broken my ankle which meant the tour would have to be postponed but even now two months into the show I still wear an ankle support.

"But they say life is all about learning new skills and I never, ever in a million years thought – now in my 50s, that I could learn to walk the high wire.

“When I was cast in Barnum I was petrified and thought ‘Oh my God what am I taking on?’, then I watched Michael Crawford do it on the Internet and thought it doesn’t look that hard but unbeknown to me Michael had been doing it for five years.”

Has he fallen off on stage?

“If I get across first time I get applause...if I fall and have a go about four times I virtually get a standing ovation. They know I’m not a professional tight rope walker! “ Is there a crash mat on the stage?

“Absolutely not – it’s just the ground and me! You have to break your fall by grabbing the wire.”

As this point Brian shows me the damage to his hands: “You can see where the wire’s gone and then there’s serious bruising under my feet because I had to toughen up.”

So what happens if it goes wrong?

“We do have a Plan B which we have only instigated twice in two months .If I fall too many times and I am too tired – we are doing eight shows in five days, I do fire eating, but they get fire eating from me regardless!

“Cinderella is very physical too but luckily I’m fitter than I ever have been in my life – the most I’ve done before this is walk my dogs!”