Fiddler On The Roof, Grand Opera House, March 17 to 22

"I think it's the first time the show has toured other than Topol doing a short tour before it went into the West End about ten years ago - and possibly it's not been toured before because everyone associates the show with Topol, but the show is always the thing," says Paul.

"It's worth doing, whether Topol is in or not. I'm sort of being facetious there: Topol did the film and the musical and he's probably still doing it, but the show will work without him because it's a good, moving musical with insights into Jewish family life in Russia, and with humour too."

Like Yul Brynner and The King And I, Fiddler On The Roof has become linked forever with one actor, but Nicholas has no qualms about playing the dairyman who dreams of riches, respect and a quiet family life in his Jewish village in Czarist Russia.

After all, this former pianist with Screaming Lord Sutch and The Savages has risen to the diverse challenges of making his musical debut in the 1968 premiere of the hippie rock musical Hair and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar; succeeding Richard Gere as Danny Zuko in the original London production of Grease; creating the role of Rum Tum Tigger in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats; walking the tightrope in the first tour of Barnum; and turning villainous as the Pirate King in The Pirates Of Penzance.

He was last seen on the York stage in that piratical Gilbert and Sullivan role, and next week returns to the Grand Opera House to lead the cast in Stein, Bock and Harnick's Broadway musical.

He is in the fourth week of the tour, receiving favourable reviews since opening in Blackpool. "I think it's a good production; I'm happy with it, and so are the reviews," Paul says.

"The thing about Tevye is that it's a good role because it has all the elements. He gets to talk to God, so he's amusing; he gets to be dramatic because of his relationship with his daughters, telling them to marry; and then there is all the drama of the Jewish community being moved on from their village."

Paul says he informs the role with his experiences as a father and his humour, but the great joy for him is that Tevye is such a fulfilling part already: "The reason that Topol was so good in it was that it was such a good part to play... and they don't come along too often."

That said, Tevye was not a part that he had long cherished. "The producers had come to me with this idea of doing HMS Pinafore, but I didn't fancy it, and out of the ether, I suddenly said 'Well, why don't we do Fiddler On The Roof?'. It's difficult to get the rights - for some reason, it always is - but anyway we got them," he says.

His timing could not have been better, although there was one disappointment. "It turns out there's now going to be a new film version and a new Broadway version, which means we can't take our production into London because that Broadway show will have the rights to come into the West End."

So, he must make do with savouring the role of Tevye over the six-month tour. In the distance is the prospect of a return to the north for the first panto at the Lowry in Manchester's Salford Quays this Christmas. Paul will be playing Captain Hook: as hooked as ever on appearing on stage.

Fact file:

Name: Paul Nicholas

Occupation: Actor, singer, producer

Born: Paul Beuselinck, in Peterborough, December 3, 1945. Son of Oscar Beuselinck, former flamboyant showbiz lawyer. Moved to North London in childhood; now lives in Highgate

Age: 57

First stage name: Paul Dean, lead singer of Paul Dean and The Dreamers

Musical apprenticeship: Playing piano with Screaming Lord Sutch and The Savages

Disco pop success with curly blond hair: Cheesy 1976 hits with Reggae Like It Used To Be, Dancing With The Captain and Grandma's Party, memorably dancing on Top Of The Pops with Legs & Co dressed as grannies. Heaven On The 7th Floor, number 40 in 1977, was his last UK chart entry

Albums: Paul Nicholas, 1977; Just Good Friends, 1986; That's Entertainment, 1993; Colours Of My Life, 1994

Musicals: Debut in 1968 London premiere of Hair, playing principal role of Claude; Jesus Christ Superstar, as Jesus, 1972; Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, as Rum Tum Tigger, 1981; Tim Rice and Stephen Oliver's Blondel, title role, 1983; Charlie Girl, with Cyd Charisse, 1986; Barnum, as P T Barnum, 1992; The Pirates Of Penzance, as the Pirate King, four times; Singin' in The Rain, 1995; Fiddler On The Roof, as Tevye, 2003

Producer: Formed production company with fellow performer David Ian, 1992. Shows have included 20th anniversary concert tour of Jesus Christ Superstar; The Greatest Shows in Town; The Rocky Horror Show; and Grease, his first West End production. Grease played Grand Opera House, York, in May 2001 and January 2002

Best known television role: Jack-the-lad turf accountant Vince Pinner, opposite Jan Francis's prim, middle-class Penny Warrender, in Just Good Friends, 1983-86

Films: Cannabis, 1969; Stardust, 1974; Ken Russell's Lisztomania and Tommy, both 1975; Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978; The Jazz Singer, 1980; Invitation To The Wedding, with Sir John Gielgud, 1985; Alive, 1986

Only previous performance in York: Pirates Of Penzance, Grand Opera House, June 1999

Why, where and when in York in 2003: Playing Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof, Grand Opera House, March 17 to 22. Performances at 7.30pm, plus Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Tickets: £13 to £23 on 01904 671818.

Updated: 09:38 Friday, March 14, 2003