'ALLO, 'ALLO. What's this then?

Actor Gorden Kaye took time out from preparations for a big date at the Royal Albert Hall in London to send a good luck message to an amateur company in Holmfirth.

Huddersfield-born Gorden, who is now based in Leeds, clearly remembers his own days as a young amateur actor in the area.

So he was keen to back the team behind Turn Again Theatre's latest production.

It does happen to be a show he knows just a little about.

Turn Again's version of the comedy 'Allo, 'Allo - which is based on a wartime French café - opened at Holmfirth Civic Hall last night.

The BBC sitcom version made Gorden a star.

The show, produced and directed by Daren Wild, runs at Holmfirth Civic Hall until Saturday at 7.30pm.

Gorden won many fans in the 1980s and early 90s with his portrayal on TV and on stage of René Artois, the cafe owner in the comedy classic, 'Allo 'Allo.

He told the Holmfirth actors: "Just enjoy it. I'm sure you'll have three great shows - and when it's over you'll want to do it again. I did 1,200-plus performances and it was great fun."

Gorden reprised his TV role for two years on stage in London with a show that was also taken as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

And he still dons René's apron occasionally, mainly for charity appearances.

But it as himself that he will be appearing at the Royal Albert Hall on November 1.

He acted as compere earlier this year for Men In Harmony, a mass concert at Huddersfield Town Hall involving some of the region's best male singers.

It was part of the build-up for the Yorkshire Cancer Research Festival of Music at when it is expected that 1,200 men and between 300 and 350 women will join forces to sing for the charity at the Royal Albert Hall. Gorden will compere that too.

Gorden, who lived in London for 22 years before returning to live in the outskirts of Leeds, said: "There'll be 1,500 singers performing to around 6,000 people and I believe it's more or less a sell-out."

Tickets for 'Allo 'Allo are available from Holmfirth Information Centre on 01484 222444.

They are priced £5 or £4 for concessions.