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Brian Blessed

Legendary Brian Blessed is famous for so many things - his voice, his beard, his parts and of course his trips up Everest.

Be it armoured from head to foot in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, complete with Viking helmet in Flash Gordon, or crowned in Blackadder, everyone has a favourite Brian role.

But in real life Brian Blessed is even bigger than the parts he has played, if that's possible - whether it be swimming with piranhas in the Amazon, climbing yet another summit or carrying out some of his endless charity work, this bear of a man is a doer.

What's even more amazing is that he's 71 and still as busy as ever, currently touring with Peter And The Wolf, and appearing at The Wycombe Swan on Tuesday.

After that he's doing a feature film in Hungary, has just finished filming As You Like It with Kenneth Branagh, plans to climb Sangai at the foot of the Himalayas and "hopes to fit in another couple of expeditions before Christmas."

He's also training to go into space, is planning a major sea voyage and, in between, helps his wife look after the 2,500 animals on their farm in Surrey.

Peter And The Wolf must seem positively tame in comparison then? "Oh it's wonderfully refreshing," he says.

"And there's no point getting on stage if you can't wait to get off it again, so I'm making sure I really enjoy myself," he says.

One senses that he throws himself into everything 100 per cent and that includes his rigorous fitness regime of running eight miles a day and weight-training.

"I've got a figure like a GI, or a gorilla, because of the fitness regime I did when I served my National Service in Upper Heyford and I trained with the Americans on the airbase. I think my sense of adventure all stems from there," he explains.

Peter And The Wolf opens at The Wycombe Swan on Tuesday. Box office: 01494 512000.

2:46pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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