A CLASSIC piece of Victorian noir theatre is coming to Dorset next week with a glittering cast of stars.

The Woman in White is the story of an innocent young woman being duped by her unscrupulous husband.

It is a tale of madness, betrayal and love and the cast includes a host of TV favourites, including Colin Baker, Peter Amory alias evil Chris Tate in Emmerdale, Neil Stacy from Duty Free, Grange Hill’s Karen Ford who played the art teacher Miss Booth for seven years and established stage and television actors Glyn Grain and Richard Tate.

Colin plays the enigmatic Count Fosco who might be there to help the beleaguered woman, or might be working against her.

It is a complete change for the popular actor who was last in Dorset over the festive period dressed in a series of outrageous gowns topped off with an ample bosom as Nanny Nellie in Bournemouth’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

“I was in the play before because we started touring it last year so it is wonderful to come back to it,” said a cheery Colin.

“Count Fosco is an interesting character and lovely to play because it is not clear whether he is good or bad.

“I am enjoying doing the play again and Ian Dickens, the producer, is very good at putting together a cast of people who are compatible and will get on, which is very important when you are on tour and working closely together. I have been touring theatre for 40 years and there have only been one or two times when there are people who I don’t particularly get on with – naming no names – and it is simply awful.”

Colin added: “Before playing the Count, of course, I was playing Nanny Nellie in Bournemouth’s panto so I have gone from being a 16th century mad woman to a 19th century count. Quite a bit of time travel really . . .”

Which brings us neatly to one of Colin’s most famous incarnations – the sixth Dr Who. Does he still watch the series?

“Oh yes, I enjoy it. I think Matt Smith is tremendous as the Doctor and his new assistant seems very good too. I like her.”

It has been a hectic few months for Colin who, before panto, descended into the jungle a part of I’m a Celebrity – Get me Out of Here, where he braved bugs and privation with a bunch of ‘famous’ people including Hugo Taylor from Made in Cheslea, the MP Nadine Dorries, darts champion Eric Bristow and soap actresses Charlie Brookes and Helen Flanagan. It was an experience that Colin says he enjoyed very much – ‘if enjoy is the right word!’ “The hardest thing is being cut off from your family.

“I know I am away touring a lot, but I can phone home when I want and not being able to was not fun,” he said.

On the bright side, Colin emerged from the jungle with a new set of unexpected friends.

“We were a real mix of people but there was no one there who I could not get on with,” he said.

“It was a strange range of people there, people I wouldn’t normally mix with but who I can now call friends and who I will hope to keep in touch with.

“That posh chap Hugo was lovely and there were tears in his eyes when he said goodbye to me.

“I was amazed that this young guy would care a hoot but he was lovely.

“And I’ll definitely be keeping in touch with Nadine.

“She is a genuine person who cares passionately and isn’t afraid to say so, and I admire her for that.”

l The Woman in White is at Lighthouse, Poole from January 22-26.

Call 0844 406 8666 for tickets and full details.