LIONEL Blair is trying to get away from the image he has created for himself since he began his show business career in the 1950s.

He's also trying to figure out the route from London to Malvern, which he will navigate when he comes to the Malvern Theatres on Monday, July 22.

He said: "I've never been to Malvern before. Is it the M40 or the M1 that you take? I've been lent a car for the tour and it has a satellite in it. It's brilliant and it even tells you when you've taken a wrong turn."

Getting to Malvern from London will probably be easier than getting away from the public perception of the Lionel Blair, who is known to millions, who began his acting and dancing career in the 1950s.

Known principally for his dancing and perhaps his 12-year stint as the men's team captain in the classic celebrity TV game show Give Us A Clue, Lionel takes on a whole new role when starring with George Sewell in "Who Killed Agatha Christie", a thriller directed by Howard Ross.

He plays Arthur, a vitriolic critic, who destroys the work of actor and playwright John (played by Sewell), who concocts a plot to trap him, which has left theatre audiences on the edge of their seats.

"It's a play where you can hear the audience listening," he said.

"It's not a question of whodunit, but more like who's going to do it to who, and you don't find out the answer until the very last line of the play."

It's a role he clearly enjoys very much, because it is something that sets him apart from the image that people have of him.

"This is the start of the Blair switch project!" he laughs. So what sort of role would he like?

"I would love to do Sci-fi. I would really like to play Doctor Who. Jon Pertwee was wonderful in that role for many years and I would love to do that. After all, I am a timelord!

"He was such a flamboyant character and really made the role his own, much like William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek.

"ET is my favourite film and I also really liked the first Star Wars movie, and Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

"They did a wonderful job with Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf. He could walk down a street and nobody would recognise him, but when you become well known for one thing it's difficult to do other things. We can do other things, but people always say "well I don't know if you should do that".

"Maybe I should write a letter to George Lucas or Stephen Spielberg. I just want to get away from being thought of as a soppy individual. I don't want to be known just as the little song and dance boy."

Lionel Blair can be seen in "Who Killed Agatha Christie" which opens at Malvern Theatres from July 22 and runs until Saturday, July 27.

Tickets are available, priced between £10 and £18 from the box office on 01684 892277.