Anyone for Dennis? Quite a lot of theatre producers are, actually. Les Dennis, once rarely off TV, is now rarely off the stage.

The last time we spoke in April 2009, he was playing Herbert Soppitt in J B Priestley’s stage comedy When We Are Married, at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

His just-published autobiography, Must the Show Go On?, was selling well, he had a new relationship with Claire Nicholson and an 11-month-old daughter, and he was pleased that his showbiz career, mainly on television, had taken a new direction thanks to an appearance in an episode of Extras, the Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant TV comedy follow-up to The Office.

This summer he goes to Edinburgh with Tony Staveacre’s one-man play Jigsy, in which a Liverpool comedian describes his life on and off the dole, on and off the bottle, and his struggle to break through.

Before then he comes to Bradford in Legally Blonde, the bubblegum American college all-singing, all-dancing feel-good musical.

“That’s about what it is,” he laughed, quickly adding that his character is less than feel-good. “My character, a ruthless billionaire lawyer and professor of law, is the villain of the piece. I sing. People don’t expect that. I ducked out of the school choir by singing out of tune because I didn’t think it was cool to be in the choir,” he added.

That episode of Extras showed the former Family Fortunes presenter’s capabilities as a screen actor. He thinks he learned basic repertory acting skills playing straight man to Russ Abbot on television.

“We had to do three songs every week as well. Those days were invaluable. You need to be able to diversify now, because there is less work in television as you get older. I am lucky in that I never stop (working) and I get to choose different things.”

In the past three years he and Claire have got married and now have a 13-month-old son, a little brother to their four-year-old daughter.

“It’s a late gift for me, heading towards 59,” he said.

Three years ago, I said: “Don’t be surprised if Les Dennis turns up as the Fool in King Lear.”

“It’s a part I have always wanted to play. Chekhov and Shakespeare – two boxes I want to tick. I was offered something in Sheffield two years ago, but I couldn’t do it,” he said.

Ah well. Until someone makes him another offer he can’t refuse, he’ll just have to struggle on appearing in award-winning musicals and poignant one-man comedy dramas.

* Legally Blonde is at the Alhambra from July 3 to 14, starting at 7.30pm. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.