ROLL up, roll up! TV favourite Brian Conley has run away with the circus for his latest venture.

The comic has pulled out all the stops to play famous showman Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum — and even learned to tight rope walk, breathe fire and juggle for the part.

With music by Cy Coleman, Barnum follows the life of the notorious spin doctor, entrepreneur and entertainer whose circus show was billed 'the Greatest Show on Earth'.

It seated 10,000 people at the time and was then the largest circus show in American history.

Best known for staring in TV shows like The Grimleys where he played Doug Digby alongside Amanda Holden, Brian has had huge success on both the screen and stage — but his first love is live entertainment.

Brian said: "The show going very well so far. I've been doing the show since last September and I'm really enjoying the challenge. It is a wonderful show — it's a true story about America's first spin doctor who became mayor and teamed up to make Barnum and Bailey — the world's greatest circus show.

"It is renowned for being the toughest theatre role. You need so many skills to do the part — acting, comedy, acrobatics, dancing. I had to learn how to stilt walk, juggle, fire eat and tight rope walk seven feet up without a safety net. Training was intensive, but worth it."

Barnum was a smash-hit when it opened on Broadway in 1980, and a year later it opened at the London Palladium with Michael Crawford taking the lead, winning an Olivier Award for his performance.

PT Barnum, born in 1810, was America's second millionaire and died America's richest man — despite being bankrupted twice and having five businesses and mansions destroyed by fires.

Brian said: "Barnum was a charmer. He charmed the banks to get his own way but he was a real spin doctor. He knew how to manipulate the press to get the most out of everything. You have to remember that this is in the early 1800s when there was no TV, internet and radio — it was all about live entertainment.

"He instigated having three rings meaning that the audience didn't get the full show first time and had to pay again to watch the rest. He was a very clever man.

"The show is a love story as much as it is about his career and I am enjoying working with my lovely co-star Linzi Hateley, who plays Barnum's wife Chairy.

"I'm an entertainer, as is Barnum — he's an amazing showman and I love playing him. The part is something that people have said I was born to do and I am very lucky to have been offered the role."

Most recently Brian scored a huge success as Fagin in the national tour of Cameron Mackintosh's production of Oliver!

Later this month he will be the star of his own BBC1 TV show, TV That Made Me, from July 28.

He said: "The new show will be like Desert Island Discs for TV. Guests tell me about the shows they like. I'm really looking forward to that.

"I like the diversity of my career but love nothing better than the buzz of live shows. "There was a time where it was all about pantos and clubs but it's moved on now — it's a different world now."

Barnum runs at The Lowry in Salford Quays between August 4 and 8.