There is now an entire generation brought up on Sporticus’ adventures in LazyTown, with no sign of the trend for Scandinavian lycra, acrobatics, or hair-rasing scrapes abating.

As a tour it has been going for years, returning time and time again with a new story-line and cast for it’s young admirers, while its familiar characters stay the same.

Except this time, climbing into Sporticus spandex is Callum Evans, a young Welshman, who excelled at singing and dancing at school, bucking the trend by taking up a place at musical theatre school, landing a part in Miss Saigon in the West End and now the lead in Lazy Town.

Not an easy option by any means, the rigorous, athletic, all singing, all dancing, all performing part, showcasing twice a day, up and down the country.

But the 21-year-old is loving every minute of it, delighted with the chance to shine and connect with such a young audience, undaunted by having to keep such them entertained.

“It’s such a great gig to have and having done a lot of gymnastics at school, and sang in the Welsh choir, LazyTown featured two of my specialities,” he grins. “So it’s really exciting.”

Once the GB gymnastics team calling however, Callum was forced to make a choice, and followed hsi heart all the way to the theatre, a gamble that is paying off.

“At school I was always doing cart wheels on the football pitch until my PE teacher gently suggested I take up gymnastics,” Callum remembers, laughing.

“But now I’m glad I had all that training and experience because playing Sparticus is a hugely energetic role and something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Still pushing a healthy eating message, encouraging the children to eat lots of fruit and veg and drink lots of water, as well as getting lots of sleep, Callum says he’s practising what he preaches considering his gruelling touring schedule. “I am looking after myself too because we have 43 shows in three months so no time to rest,” he grins.

So why the healthy eating message? “We are trying to react against the obesity levels going up in the UK so make sure LazyTown is a physical show for the audience as well, with lots of activities that get them up on their feet, things they can then practice at home, to get them involved.

So every time I come on stage it’s to teach them a different sequence, which keeps them busy.”

As for taking over from the grand master Sporticus, Iceland’s Magnus Scheving himself, who founded and starred in the show, Callum says: “I have worked very hard to portray him as accurately as possible because Sporticus is such a perfectionist and such a central heroic character in the children’s eyes, that I’m putting everything into my performance.