Listen very carefully - this isn't Gorden

"It's the only one of David Croft's comedies that I was never in," says Holland, who tours with the show to Worthing (Connaught Theatre, October 6 to 11).

He admits it was a bit of an unknown quantity, given that the Rene role inevitably instantly brings Kaye to most people's minds.

"But I just have to take it by the throat and make it my own. I am not doing an impression of Gorden Kaye, I am playing it my own way, which means dressing up as Rene and putting on a funny French accent!"

The important thing is to get Rene across as the naughty boy who is also a survivor in difficult times.

"At the end of the day he does whatever it takes to stay alive."

For the full feature and more arts and entertainments news, see the West Sussex Gazette issue dated October 1