WITH roles such as Spike in Hi-de-Hi, James in You Rang, M'Lord and Cecil in Oh, Doctor Beeching! to his name, it may come as a surprise to learn that Jeffrey Holland started out in Shakespeare.

But Jeffrey, who is appearing in the farce It Runs in the Family at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth, has roles in TV versions of Henry V, As You Like It and King Richard the Second to his name, as well as plenty of serious stage roles.

"I was a jobbing actor doing anything and everything," Jeffrey says of the early days of his career.

"But comedy seems to have chosen me and I'm not complaining - it's been very good to me, it's been very enjoyable. It would be nice to do something dramatic every now and again but I'm still waiting. I can't remember when I last played a heavy role - it would probably be Shakespeare back in my rep days before Hi-De-Hi. I would relish the opportunity to do it - it would give me the chance to exercise some different acting muscles to the ones I usually use."

But Jeffrey hasn't really got any complaints about his career, serious roles or not. And he certainly hasn't got any regrets about being involved in Hi-de-Hi.

"We had a feeling when we started Hi-de-Hi that we might be on to something - it had a unique feel and we hoped it would be a success but we were an instant success which was very gratifying - we've gone down in the annals of comedy classics," he says proudly.

"I do watch old episodes sometimes and when you see them 20 years later you've forgotten all about what you did and how funny it was. It really does make me laugh - it's a joy to know that it is still very funny."

And it seems that Jeffrey's involvement is remembered fondly by fans of the show too.

"Strangely enough people still do shout 'Hi-de-Hi' me in the street," he says, "it's very gratifying, it makes me smile. It's always very nice."

But there's one thing he doesn't miss about the show: "They used to throw me in the swimming pool every week at least once - I didn't like that very much!

"There was one occasion when I almost died because the water was so cold I couldn't move.

"In It Runs in the Family there is a moment when we go berserk with soda siphons but I've managed to stay out of the way for that one - I don't get wet."

Jeffrey hasn't got plans to do any more television in the near future.

"They don't seem to want to make the kind of programmes that we used to make anymore. I don't quite understand why," he says sadly.

"I despair of the state of British comedy - there's so precious little of it these days, the kind of family shows that you can sit granny and the kids in front of. There are a few but you can count them on one hand now. But when they put out repeats of things like To the Manor Born and The Good Life they get fantastic audiences so why don't the producers learn something from the repeat figures? Why don't they make new programmes like they used to?"

But Jeffrey's disappointment with the current state of British television hasn't given him any desire to go into producing himself.

"I'm not that organised. I can organise my own suitcase for a tour and that's it!," he laughs.

But then his suitcase does take some organising: "When I go on tour I usually take a microwave, my own frying pan, a video and DVD player which I pack in the car, and a kettle - I like to fill the boot of the car up so I've got everything I might need!"

So we're not likely to see Jeffrey cropping up on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in the near future.

"I wouldn't enjoy a show like that. I love my home comforts. I admire those that are foolhardy enough to go out there and do it but that's not for me!"

It Runs in the Family is on at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth from May 6-18, July 1-6 and July 15-20. Tickets: from £7. Box office: 01202 456456.