“WHEN the nerves quit, it’s time to stop.”

Darren Day has never forgotten the words of his grandfather, a vaudeville entertainer who appeared on bills alongside Laurel and Hardy and George Formby.

Since winning Opportunity Knocks in 1988, Darren has starred on stage and screen, from the club circuit to the cinema. And when he met local youngsters auditioning at the Alhambra for this year’s panto, he passed on his grandad’s wisdom.

“I told them: 'Auditions don’t get any easier’. I’m 48 and have been in the business since I was 18, and I still feel nerves. You need that,” says Darren, who plays Captain Hook in Peter Pan.”It’s great because it’s something my boy, who’s five, can watch me in. He’s not really seen me on stage,” says Darren. “The Alhambra is our local panto, we don’t live far and we’ve always brought the kids to see Billy. I’ve known him since 1993, he’s a fabulous entertainer.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Darren Day plays Captain Hook in the battle Alhambra pantomime Peter Pan
Darren Day as Captain Hook in the Alhambra pantomime Peter Pan

“Panto is often children's first trip to the theatre. It can have a huge effect. My first theatre experience was watching Morecambe and Wise at the London Palladium. I knew that's what I wanted to do. At the age of 24 I was on the Palladium stage. I caught the back end of variety when I started, and I'm glad I did. It was good grounding."

Darren’s first big role was starring in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End."I didn't think I'd have a cat in hell's chance at the audition, as I wasn't a name. Jason Donovan had just done it, it was massive. The audition was like X Factor," he says. "Then my manager called, saying, 'The dreamcoat's yours, mate'. I'll never forget that.

"It all catapulted from there; I got a record deal with Simon Cowell, and a TV presenting deal."

Darren has starred in such shows as Summer Holiday; Grease and We Will Rock You. He also forged a recording career and appeared in TV dramas such as Mile High, Hollyoaks and The Bill.

He recently completed White Island, a film with Billy Zane, and next year he returns to Grease, playing Teen Angel.

"I'm getting all kinds of roles now, from an East End gangster to a farmer bringing up three kids on his own. And it will be great to go back to Grease, which was such a big show for me when I was younger," says Darren. "It feels like a good time for me right now."

He deserves it. He's had his share of high profile romances and well documented dramas in the past, but these days Darren Day is a polite, softly-spoken father who is taking his craft seriously.

When we speak he's playing Bob in Rita, Sue and Bob Too, a play he'd like to bring to Bradford. "That would be such a tribute to Andrea Dunbar; what an accolade to write this play as a young girl. She wrote it for a school assignment - what a talent she was, and so sad that she left us so young. We use the exact script she wrote," he says. "George Costigan (who played Bob in the 1986 film adaptation) emailed me saying: 'Go get 'em'. That meant a lot."

It's quite a leap from a gritty black comedy to panto. "I took last Christmas off, before the craziness of Celebrity Big Brother (in which he was a finalist), so it's nice to be part of it all again," says Darren. "I'm normally Buttons or Prince Charming, I'm looking forward to being a baddie for a while."

Peter Pan opens at the Alhambra tomorrow, running until January 29, 2017. Call (01274) 432000.

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