Man of Steele

As Len Goodman would say: “Cut Tommy Steele in half and you’d find entertainer all the way down the middle.” Which is why, despite being 74, yes 74, for the past eight years he’s played Scrooge, and tours with it at Christmas.

“They usually ring me up in about April, give me a list of theatres and ask if I’d like to go for it,” Tommy says, “even though when we started Scrooge eight years ago I only agreed to one season.

“But then it went on to become such a massive success and break all Palladium records, besides being such a great part to play.”

So what’s the attraction? “Well, Scrooge is a naughty little sod who becomes nicer and kinder as he goes along. He’s the song-and-dance man’s King Lear, going through all the facets of a mans life. And Scrooge is an enormous, entertaining musical and such a wonderful part, that I just cannot wait to get back on stage.”

He means it too, proving that Tommy Steele is a living miracle, which is no doubt why they gave him an OBE.

And considering that Tommy hit the charts aged just 19, becoming a heart-throb to rival Elvis Presley, by my calculations that’s over 50 years in the business.

Including a fair portion spent in Oxfordshire. One of his most famous films — Half a Sixpence — was filmed in Oxford in 1967. “It was such beautiful weather and I felt welcomed by the people and the atmosphere. It was typical England,” he remembers.

But then Oxford holds a special place in Tommy Steele’s heart, having lived in Thame for four years, when his only daughter was eventing. “When I wasn’t on stage I was on the farm we bought or training the horses in Woodstock,” he remembers fondly. “I didn’t like it much in the winter but in the summer it’s beautiful there.”

Presumably the lure of the big smoke got the better of him then as he now lives in London again? “Oh I’m not bothered either way. When you’ve been at sea for five years . . . a sailor can sling his hook anywhere.”

Yes, aged just 15 Tommy Steele spent five years in the merchant navy before being spotted busking. “It all helps because I’m a travelling actor so I never get settled anywhere unless I’m dug in for a few months. But when I do get time off I go and find the sun,” he admits. Next stop? “Oh America later this month for a spot of fishing. I like fishing in The Keys.”

Another string to his already bursting bow then, to add to the writing, painting, sculpting, county squash and tennis. “It’s all about communicating though isn’t it when it boils down to it. It’s all entertainment to me and I’m just greedy,” Tommy grins.

“Besides I can’t abide lying on a beach. I like to be warm and have the sun shining down on me but I also have to be doing something which is why I’m so into my P-Pod.

Your what? “P-pod, Oh I call it that, you call it Ipod,” he chuckles “but it means I can listen to Elizabethan literature or a good Sherlock Holmes play whenever I want, in the sun,” he says clearly enamoured.

But despite the fame, records, concerts and films, it’s musical theatre that stuck, although it seems a shame to have to drag him back to the task in hand – Scrooge. “Don’t be. No, I love it, I love doing it. It’s always a wonderful experience and it never changes. Being on stage in theatre and a good play — that’s it for me. And this is such a fantastic musical. So I put aside 14 weeks a year to do it and then go off and do my thing the rest of the time, but I’m always secretly waiting to go back.”

And the future? “I do it, I’m doing it and I hope to do more. It was and still is wonderful.”

And then Tommy Steele shakes himself as the theatre slowly fills up. “But I must be off, I’ve got my two shows to do,” he says before looking back and saying: “You can’t get it out of your system you know, you never get tired of walking out on to that stage.”

A good innings then? “Yes, and they’re still bowling,” he grins, winks and is gone.

Tommy Steele appears in Scrooge which opens at Oxford’s New Theatre on Monday and runs until next Saturday (January 9-14). Box office on 0844 8713020. www.atgtickets.com/oxford