Not many people can honestly say that they enjoy working and socialising with the same people. But comedian Jim Davidson manages to successfully combine the two. SALLY CHURCHWARD spoke to the panto star...

JIM Davidson is a happy man. He is not only doing what he loves doing - putting on a fabulous pantomime that is already breaking box office records - but is also working with his best friends.

I meet him and the rest of the cast at the press call for his pantomime, Dick Whittington at The Mayflower.

Although he has a reputation for being difficult to interview and even downright rude, he is friendly and chatty.

This may be in part due to the complimentary buffet supplied by the theatre, to which he liberally helps himself several times during the course of the interview but it also seems to be because he is surrounded by the cast, with whom he seems to get along very well.

Victor Spinetti, who stars alongside Davidson as King Rat, describes the pantomime's cast, which also includes John Virgo and John Lyons, as 'Jim's crazy gang'.

They not only work together but also socialise with one another, meeting up out of panto season, generally to go for a big Chinese meal.

Spinetti was even responsible for encouraging Davidson, a former alcoholic who spent six years battling with the bottle, to start drinking again, which Davidson considers to be a good thing.

"He got me drinking Bovril and sherry," he says.

Despite popular theory that if you have recovered from a drink problem you can never drink again, Davidson claims that he has found a happy balance.

"It was boring when I didn't drink at all. I was everyone's cab driver.

"It was always, 'Jim, can you give us a lift back? You're not drinking'.

"I drink now but my habits have totally changed. I don't drink the same as I used to.

"I like a pint down the pub now whereas before that didn't get me drunk enough.

"Now I like a glass of wine with my dinner, whereas before I was rushing through the meal to get to the brandies. I don't even like brandy anymore.

"I know when to stop now."

Drinking is not the only aspect of his life in which Davidson has cleaned up his act.

The comedian, famous for his blue pantomimes, such as Sinderella, promises that Dick Whittington is strictly children-friendly.

"There's no smut in this panto because kids don't understand it.

"I won't go back to doing adult pantos.

"Adults should come and see this show. It's much funnier than the adult Sinderella and it's so spectacular.

"People really, really love it," he says proudly.

Dick Whittington is on at The Mayflower until January 20. For tickets and more information, call 023 8071 1811.