Strictly Come Dancing’s Les Dennis on retirement, choosing his roles and coming to Leeds for 42nd Street

But away from the small screen, the proud Liverpudlian has also carved out an increasingly impressive stage career – even featuring in an English National Opera production of HMS Pinafore in late 2021.

His latest theatrical role is as musical producer Bert Barry in 42nd Street, with its national tour heading to Yorkshire later this month.

After two-and-a-half weeks in Leicester and three-and-half in London, the show is now heading out with an intense touring schedule that will take in a further 14 venues between now and the end of October.

Dennis is one of the few main cast members to stay on past the original Leicester and London dates and will be part of the show at all but two of the venues for the rest of its run.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post as the London run was wrapping up while parallel rehearsals with new cast members including former EastEnders star Samantha Womack and Steps singer Faye Tozer were well under way, Dennis says: "I know the process in that I’ve done what they are doing for Only Fools and Horses: The Musical when I went in as Grandad.

"It is like jumping onto a speeding train, it literally is. With these new cast members we are giving them everything we possibly can.”

He says the show – which follows the story of Peggy Sawyer as she chases a shot at stardom on Broadway – has been a smash hit with audiences so far.

"It has been amazing, the reaction to the show is incredible,” Dennis says.

"Every night without fail we have had a standing ovation. It’s a great show and people are loving it. It is just a joy to be part of.

"The show when it is on tour will be as good as it is now.”

Dennis will be turning 70 in October, with the milestone birthday falling while the show is in Newcastle.

He says he has no thoughts of retirement but is selective about what work he chooses.

"I’ve got other things on the horizon but I can’t talk about them as they are still under wraps,” he says.

"There are no retirement plans but I’m getting to that point where I can pick and choose and get time with my kids. I’m having two weeks off from the show so I can get away with the family this year and go to America."

He says he remains driven by a passion for the right projects.

"It is always a challenge. If something comes up and I think ‘I would love to do that’, then it keeps me going. I’m lucky enough to be able to pick and choose a bit more now.

"When they asked me to do English National Opera, I just had to do it. Then Only Fools and Horses was a great chance to job-share with Paul Whitehouse in a fantastic role in a lovely show.

"There are things I turn down but when it is something really exciting, I just think ‘I have got to do this’."

The new production is directed by Jonathan Church, who Dennis says he has long wanted to work with, and the show features a series of well-known songs.

Dennis says the songs are just part of the reason audiences have been enjoying the show.

"I had never seen 42nd Street but had heard lots of people raving about it. The opening has the curtain partly going up and all you see is lots of feet tapping.

"We have a great ensemble and the choreography is extraordinary. I don’t think people realise it was written in the 1980s but it is a kind of jukebox show.

"They have taken songs from the 30s and 40s – you’ve got We’re In The Money, Lullaby of Broadway, I Only Have Eyes For You, Shuffle Off to Buffalo which is the comedy song I do.

"People know all the songs and the way they are performed is brilliant. There’s a great story there as well.

"It is a tough story in the sense it is about a show that is being put on in The Depression. We’re In The Money starts with four urchins looking down a grid to get a dime. You can understand it now with the cost-of-living crisis but also with this show you can come out and forget your troubles.

"I’ve got to experience 42nd Street and the wonder of it by being in it rather than seeing it."

The Yorkshire leg of the tour will be at the Leeds Grand Theatre between July 25 and 29 and Dennis says he is looking forward to returning to the region which he has been visiting since the very start of his career as a young stand-up comic.

"I did a lot of the working men’s clubs in Yorkshire, also did Batley Variety and Wakefield Variety Clubs in their heyday.

"I also did West Yorkshire Playhouse when it was still called that. I did a wonderful production of When We Are Married [written by Bradford’s JB Priestley], which was a lot of pressure because it is a Yorkshire play. I loved it.”

That production was back in 2009 when Dennis will still making his mark as a stage performer and he has gone on to rack up roles on the West End and in touring shows.

He says there is still a great thrill for both audiences and performers from live theatre in the post-pandemic world.

"We opened Hairspray in the West End as of the first shows back after the pandemic.

"Audiences were in masks and had to sit two seats away from each other but even then, straight away it was extraordinary.

"I think people are still feeling so grateful to be back in the theatre watching wonderful shows. At the time, we were being told to retrain during the pandemic – ludicrous.

"Showbusiness and theatre and live entertainment is so much more important than some people give it credit for.

"It helps people with their mental health and helps go out and feel something and forget their troubles.

"As a performer it is amazing and we are very grateful for it. Those couple of years were very difficult. It was a test at first when we came back.

"With Hairspray we were on for four weeks and then somebody got Covid and we were shut down for 10 days.

"We were having to test every day and never allowed to go through the main stage door and told to go home and live your life frugally and don’t go out and catch it.

"We’re all very grateful to be back – it is what we do, it is our lifeblood really.”

42nd Street comes to Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 July 2023.Book tickets online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the box office on 0113 243 0808.