Starsky and Hook - Paul Michael Glaser talks panto

Look at the iconic series. In stark comparison to its recent cinematic remake (hilarious as Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller's offering was), real acting, chemistry and story were at its heart. The jokes and witticisms of the TV version, like the Torrino's fine leather interior, are just an added extra.

Other acting credits include his intense and admired portrayal of Harry Houdini. He also helmed the acclaimed Arnie action sci-fi, The Running Man, and, as well as being the author of several novels aimed at young adults, he's the chairman of awareness charity the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Let's face it, Glaser couldn't be further removed from Christopher Biggins, whether the regular dame was in the jungle or not.

Bearing all this in mind, does Michael consider himself an unusual choice for panto?

"No, I don't," he said. "I've done a lot of theatre.

"There's a lot of different elements and it's very disciplined, also. I think it's the live form of having a good time."

Paul is among a good handful of US-based stars who've crossed the pond to appear on stage this season. Henry Winkler (The Fonz) returns to the UK, 50s screen legend Mickey Rooney and even Madge from Neighbours are all braving the boos and hisses this year.

It marks an interesting trend of high-profile actors giving panto a good name.

It may be Paul's very first encounter with panto and despite describing rehearsals as a "bit of fast and loose" he by no means considers pantomime an unfashionable outlet.

He said: "It's definitely a very viable form of entertainment.

"If you look at the history of theatre, especially back in Shakespeare's day, audience involvement was mandatory.

"Well, it's wonderful for children but then there are children in all of us."

The enthusiasm for theatre leads me to assume Paul's purely in it for artistic reasons.

"Acting is definitely a creative outlet for me.

"You have to look at it that way. You need to have a passion about it."

All actors gush about a panto when they're in them, but you can't help wonder why Paul accepted the Bromley-based role of Hook in Peter Pan.

"Well I'm at a point in my game where because of the ageism in the business, you know there's not a lot to choose from," he said.

"I'm not going to do something I don't like but if something comes along I think I would enjoy doing, I'll do it.

"There's a lot of people my age competing for roles and they don't write a lot of roles for people of my age.

"People who have experience and are of age, often in this grey, scared world we're living in, are a threat to the young people who are coming up and holding the positions which make positions."

Paul has simply kept himself busy by spreading his skills widely; acting, writing and directing.

"I was looking for a different way of being creative," he said of reasons for stepping behind the camera.

"I found doing what I was doing in the series way back when, it was a little bit stifling.

Then I discovered that in directing you get to practice so many different creative expressions. I found the whole experience very exciting and terrific, so I really took to it."

Considering Paul is not the biggest fan of interviews, I try to keep the Starsky & Hutch questions down to a minimum, but it would be a crime not to bring it up. I'm keen to hear what he thought of the recent film.

"Well you couldn't recreate the series now, could you? You couldn't recreate the 70s, it's a different audience, a different world today.

"It's a compliment that they did it and I think Owen and Ben, for what it was, did a very good job.

"I didn't think of it in terms of good or bad. That was what it was and I thought they did an e ntertaining job."

Peter Pan. Nov 30 to Jan 13. The Churchill, Bromley.

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