THEATRE goers were in for a surprise when they booked tickets for The Mayflower's festive musical White Christmas earlier this week.

Star of the show and ex-Neighbours hunk Craig McLachlan joined box office staff at the theatre in Commercial Road, Southampton, to take telephone bookings from astonished customers.

Craig - also known for his roles in Home & Away, BBC series Bugs and West End musical Grease - was only too happy to step out of the spotlight and take on a less glittering task behind the scenes.

The Australian actor even noted down people's seat numbers, promising to give them a special wave at the end of the show.

One customer, Mrs. Vincent, who was calling the theatre from Portsmouth, was "tickled pink" when she spoke to him.

"Craig asked me where I would be sitting for the show and promised to wave, I said I would wave back," she said.

"We also chatted about when he was in Neighbours. He is such a nice man. I was totally flabbergasted you just never know who you could end up speaking to when you phone The Mayflower!"

Those not lucky enough to speak to Craig in person can still see him on stage. Irving Berlin's White Christmas is at the Mayflower until January 28.