FANS wondering whatever happened to Rodney Bewes will be able to find out next Sunday.

The former Likely Lad - now a respectable gentleman of the theatre - is appearing on stage at the Everyman in Cheltenham in the one-man show - Diary of A Nobody.

Bewes, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary in showbusiness, is looking forward to returning to Cheltenham after his success last year with Three Men in a Boat.

He said: "I really like Cheltenham.

"In fact it was the people I met in the bar after the show last year that suggested I do Diary of a Nobody next."

The fictitious diary, written by George and Weedon Grossmith, was first published in side-splitting parts in Punch in 1892.

It reveals the everyday life of loveable Charles Pooter and his harmless pomposity, not-quite-so harmless snobbery, worldly wisdom and ghastly puns embodying lower middle class attitudes of the day with hilarious effect.

Following his country-wide tour of the show, which began at the Edinburgh Festival in August, Bewes will be donning dame garb in Dick Wittington at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke in December.

The veteran actor, who started at the age of 14 in children's plays on radio and television, appeared in his first major film role as Tom Courtney's friend in Billy Liar, then many more film parts followed.

Remembered

He has also appeared in countless West End plays over the years, however he is best remembered for his long-running role as Bob, to James Bolam's Terry in The Likely Lads which began in 1964 and returned as a new series - Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? in the early 1970s.

He said: "I never mind people talking to me about The Likely Lads - I think actors who say they hate going over past successes need a kick up the backside to be honest.

"Every time they do re-runs of The Likely Lads I receive very handsome cheques which enable me to tour the country doing just what I like - which is what I'm doing now."

After panto the talented artist is to finish his biography. commissioned this year by Random House.

The father of male triplets and a daughter, said: "My first payment from the BBC when I was 14 was nine guineas.

"I think they want to call the book A Likely Story, but I think Tales in the Wardrobe is better - but the publishers will probably win.

"Wardrobe in a theatre is a special place - it's sanctuary."

For tickets to see Rodney Bewes in Diary of a Nobody, contact the box office on 01242 572573.