BRIAN GRIFFIN calls himself the eternal sub. More often than he cares to remember in 50 years with Leigh company St Joseph's Players he has been called in as a late replacement.

This year is no exception. He has just stepped in to play the good King Richard in the seasons's big pantomime Babes in The Wood, which begins a two-week run on January 26. "I just can't keep away," he said.

Brian's dramatic career began at Leigh Grammar School when he played the lead in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Mikado. Then, in February 1949, he made his first appearance for St Joseph's in Dorothy Galvin's Robinson Crusoe - "I was a substitute in that one too!" - and he has since appeared in 50 plays and 20 pantomimes.

This time he does get to sing one of the hit songs of the Christmas season - Big Panty Woman . . . said by the society to be No 1 in the Cayman Islands!

Tickets for the panto are on sale at Boardmans, Bradshawgate, Leigh, while on Saturday evening and Sunday they are available at Leigh Asda.

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