In town this week, busy rehearsing at Fairfield, is the cast of Sinderella II and its star, Jim Davidson.

Davidson is the mastermind behind many pantomimes, but this is no ordinary family show as the titile suggests.

As Davidson puts it: "It's not to be confused with my usual stand-up it's definitely a panto, it's just got rude bits in it!"

Davidson, 50, stars as Buttons and fellow cast members include Jess Conrad (Prince Charming), Roger Kitter and Dave Lee as the Ugly sisters. Davidson is a somewhat controversial figure.

He has been married four times, has been known to walk off stage in the middle of performances, has reportedly been in trouble with the Inland Revenue and, in February this year, allegedly called the police after being threatened by EastEnders star Steve McFadden after making a dirty joke about McFadden's girlfriend, Lucy Benjamin, at a charity gig in Southampton.

But there is another side to Davidson. He was awarded an OBE two years ago for his charity work and recently held a benefit gig in memory of Pc Ian Broadhurst who was shot dead in Leeds last Boxing Day. He shrugs this off as something he just felt he needed to do.

"I was as shocked as the rest of the country when I heard about the shooting. I just got a gut feeling and felt it was something I had to do," he said.

He's also chairman of The British Forces Foundation charity and has entertained the troops in the Falkland Islands and Macedonia.

Originally from Shooters Hill, Davidson started out as a budding comedian doing stand-up in pubs and clubs around London and he got his big break after appearing on New Faces in 1976.

He was given his own TV show and has never looked back. He currently hosts the BBC1 series Commercial Breakdown looking at the world's weirdest and wackiest TV adverts.

Sinderella II comes to the New Wimbledon Theatre next month (April 20 to 24). For tickets call the booking line on 0870 0606646.