NICHOLAS Lyndhurst rose to fame as one half of the hapless Trotter brothers in the classic BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.

Now he is set to impress once again when he appears at Malvern in The Dresser, one of the most acclaimed dramas of modern theatre. Written by the Oscar-winning Ronald Harwood, the wartime play is a perceptive insight into theatrical backstage life.

Lyndhurst, aged 43, who takes the title role of dresser Norman, said: "This is such a challenging role to play for anyone and I started working on it back in the summer. Peter Hall, the director, had asked me to work with him and I had seen this play and told him I was keen to do it.

"As it turned out Peter not only knew the play, but also the writer so the next thing I knew it was all systems go. My character Norman never stops talking and I like the way he just chats away. He's not especially vulnerable but he has had a sad time."

The play, set against the backdrop of a bombed-out Britain in 1941, is a far cry from the carefree sit-com sets of Butterflies and The Two of Us.

Norman is determined to create a cosy security for the backstage bunker of actor-manager 'Sir', played by Julian Glover. He in turn is determined to complete the greatest acting challenge as Shakespeare's King Lear.

Lyndhurst said: "You can be very grand and say all roles are as serious as any other, but this is a part I really wanted to do. The Dresser is a beautifully written play and that stands alone. For me, the roles I do are always character-led.

"There are so many different dimensions involved with TV and theatre - of course in theatre you have the buzz of a live audience and you're able to play off that. Theatre takes up an awful lot of your time though."

For many, Lyndhurst will forever be remembered as Rodney Trotter, a part he played for more than two decades. But the accomplished actor, who has gone on to appear in his own successful sitcom, Goodnight Sweetheart, is unfazed.

He said: "I should be very flattered if anything - it was my brief to convince the public I was a gauche, hapless market trader from Peckham so it obviously worked. We were a very happy team on Only Fools and Horses, and of course there are aspects you will miss but I think it's probably unlikely we'll make any more episodes."

The father-of-one is looking forward to his first trip to Malvern, and the prospect of bringing his family along: "My son is at school now so it makes things more difficult, but hopefully my family will come along as much as they can. The acting takes a backseat - I'm dad who goes out acting, not the other way around."

The Dresser runs in Malvern's Festival Theatre from Monday, January 24 to Saturday, January 29. For information contact the box office on 01684 892277.