IAN Lavender is far from being the "stupid boy" his character was witheringly labelled by Captain Mainwaring in the classic TV comedy series, Dad's Army.

Anyone who has chortled at Private Pike's humiliation in the misadventures of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon might have been surprised to see Ian win a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link over Christmas.

That was just another string to the bow of an actor whose work has ranged from the light comedy, with which he is most associated, to more heavyweight drama. He even popped up in EastEnders recently.

Theatregoers will get the chance to see him at Cheltenham's Everyman from the end of this month when he appears in The Ghost Train, which has a strong link with Dad's Army.

The play was written by the late Arnold Ridley - none other than Private Godfrey.

It was first performed as far back as 1925 and the latest production marks the fourth occasion Ian has been in it.

The Ghost Train is set in a small Cornish railway station in the 1920s and features ghostly goings-on after six passengers become stranded.

Ian is quick to point out that the play has nothing in common with the film version of the story, that starred Arthur Askey.

"It's nothing like the film," explained Birmingham-born Ian, "People will not be familiar with what they see on stage."

He added: "The story is about a group of passengers who get stranded, due to the advice of a stupid man, and proceed to have the scariest night of their lives."

Ian is playing the same character - Teddy Deakin - he did in previous productions. "I have done it three times before," he explained, "twice as a young man, when I was 25 and 27, and three years ago, at Bristol."

He attributes his earliest casting in The Ghost Train to being in Dad's Army: "I'm sure that's why I was offered it originally - because I was in the same show as Arnold."

Teddy Deakin is not so much a stupid boy as a silly ass, according to Ian, who likens the character to P G Woodhouse's Bertie Wooster.

The rest of the cast reads like a Who's Who of TV comedy stars and gives Ian the chance to link up again with old acquaintances.

They include Judy Cornwall - Daisy in Keeping Up Appearances, Henry McGee - straightman to Benny Hill for 20 years and Christopher Strauli, who was in Only When I Laugh.

"That's what is lovely about it, that we all know each other," Ian explained. "I don't think there's a soul in the cast that hasn't worked with somebody else in the cast at some point. I've known and worked with Henry for years. Christopher Strauli is an old friend."

Ian is philosophical about his enduring fame as mummy's boy Pike, even if it means he gets offered more than his fair share of comedy roles. "That's inevitable," he explained, "You mustn't be upset about it."

He added: "I don't question it: I just say 'thank you' and accept it."

The Ghost Train opens at the Everyman on Monday, January 28 and runs until Saturday, February 2. Tickets are available from the box office on 01242 572573.