It's Alistair McGowan on the phone, writes Gemma Collins. We think. The master of many voices is trying out his John Bishop on us. And it's Liverpudlian perfect.

"He's my favourite right now," says Alistair, assuming his own sophisticated tone.

He may have found fame as a TV impressionist mimicking everyone from David Beckham to Tony Blair; but McGowan is also a talented actor of stage and screen.

And that's what he'll be revealing, next week in Leicester, when he brings his show, Sincerely Noël, to the Little Theatre.

For those who didn't make it to Edinburgh, Sincerely Noël is a vibrant personal selection of Noël Coward's well-known (and many of his lesser-known) songs and verse.

"Three years ago I just thought Noël Coward was someone who wrote plays about posh people. But he also wrote some wonderful poems and verse, and beautiful songs," he said.

And that's where Alistair's girlfriend, soprano Charlotte Page, comes in. She's his partner in poetry too.

"Charlotte is an amazing singer and a fantastic actress," he says proudly. "The show works very well in song. We often end up in tears. It's very romantic, a series of vignettes, with something for everyone – even those unfamiliar with Coward's work."

It also offers an insight into Coward's crisp, camp and controlled persona.

"This is a very different direction for me," admits Alistair. "I know people expect to see me bending my face and being someone else, but that's all I'm doing here really. It is funny.

"Sincerely, I hope people love Sincerely Noël as much as I do."

And if we're being sincere... "Being tickled never ceases to make me laugh like a child," he adds.

Info

Sincerely Noel with Alistair McGowan and Charlotte Page is on at The Little Theatre, Dover Street, Leicester, on Monday, February 13. For tickets, call 01162 551 302.