WEST End, stage and screen legend Lionel Blair will take a side-step from his normal image when he appears at Malvern Theatres in Who Killed 'Agatha' Christie? later this month.

Lionel and his long-time friend George Sewell star together in Tudor Gates' thriller that enjoyed success two decades ago when it was first produced in the West End. It tells the tale of John (Sewell), a reasonably successful actor and writer convinced that his career has been damaged by Arthur (Blair), an elitist, homosexual drama critic. In revenge he concocts an ingenious plot to trap Arthur, involving his own wife and Arthur's partner, who, it appears, have been having an affair.

"I read it and originally somebody else was playing the part and they said would I like to do it?" said Lionel.

"I thought 'oh, this is a bit different'. I can really be not Lionel Blair! It's the Blair Switch Project! It's time the little song-and-dance boy with the great big smile stopped."

The Malvern show, from Monday, July 22 until Saturday, July 27, is the last stop on the national tour.

"I've really enjoyed it. It's been a wonderful experience," Lionel said.

He added that he would jump at the opportunity to take on a similar role again.

"I did Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and I got good reviews but nothing ever happened. I've done some serious stuff, but whenever I'm in farces it's just another extension of Lionel Blair.

"I've been Lionel Blair for such a long time now it's very nice being someone else."

Who Killed 'Agatha' Christie? starts at 8pm with matinees at 2pm on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are priced from £10, and are available from the box office on 01684 892277.