SIR Donald Sinden doesn't just sound as if he has a plum in his mouth, there seems to be an entire orchard in there.

And it is this trademark voice together with the quintessential English gentleman persona that makes him a perfect candidate to play a cross section of British monarchy in Hollow Crown.

It has been exactly 40 years since Sinden first appeared in the play, which was devised by John Barton in 1961.

In those years he has returned to the play time and again, while also making a name for himself starring in TV series such as Two's Company, Never the Twain and Judge John Deed.

But Sinden says it remains fresh because each different actor in the four-man show brings something new to the production.

"I've appeared with four or five different leading ladies, including Peggy Ashcroft and Diana Rigg," he said.

"Everybody brings something different to the role. One actor will do it one way and you'll think 'oh yes, that's perfect', and then another will come along and do it another way and you'll think 'oh, I didn't think of that'.

"We have just been touring it in Australia for 12 weeks.

"They loved it. I haven't heard such laughter. They are all royalists at heart.

"It's a bit of hysterical fun. Henry VIII is good fun. We portray him as the lecherous b*****d he was.

"There's some serious stuff as well like the trial of Charles I and some spooky stuff like Richard II's soliloquy at Pomfret Castle."

Over the years, 79 actors have played in Hollow Crown, and not always in the same roles.

In this production, Sinden will be joined by Susannah York who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in the film They Shoot Horses Don't They, with Clive Francis and Richard Johnson.

Sinden is probably most recognisable from his TV roles starring in double acts with Windsor Davies in Never the Twain and Elaine Stritch in Two's Company.

"Working with Elaine was quite an experience," he said. "She's an American and her sense of humour is totally different - it's more about the one liner as opposed to the British colourful anecdote."

Despite success on screen, Sinden's heart belongs in the theatre.

"If you were a fan of football and I said I had two tickets to the cup final or you could watch it on telly, which would you choose?" he asked.

"Everybody wants to be there and experience it for themselves.

"The audience does become as much a part of it as another actor."

The love of theatre seems to have rubbed off on his sons, Jeremy and Marc, who have followed him into acting.

Jeremy starred in the film Chariots of Fire while Marc appeared in Bergerac and Rumpole of the Bailey.

"When they were young I was working in theatre a lot. That would involve a lot of late nights and they would see dad sleeping in to about 10am.

"I think they saw that and thought that was the career for them."

Sinden's last appearance in Malvern was in The Quartet four years ago, and it was enough to earn him a place on the theatre's wall of fame.

And the respect is obviously mutual.

"It's such a beautiful town," he said.

"Going to the theatre in Malvern is what going to the theatre ought to be.

"You can drive your car there, have a meal, see the play, walk back to your car and drive home. Try doing that in London."

Hollow Crown runs at Malvern Festival Theatre from Monday to Saturday, September 8 to 13. Tickets are £14 to £22 from the box office on 01684 892277 or from www.malvern-theatres.co.uk