A MOVING, funny, and at times heartbreaking portrayal of one of British comedy's best known stars returns to the Torch Theatre tonight.

Oh Hello! sees tragic Carry On star Charles Hawtrey share the hilarious highs and depressing lows of 50 years in the spotlight.

The one-man show, deftly performed by the Torch's own Jamie Rees, has enjoyed roaring success since its debut in Milford Haven in 2014.

Since then, it has won over audiences across the UK, including sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Said Rees: “There’s no doubting Charles Hawtrey could be an extremely difficult man, especially when he was drunk, but when he was sober and on the top of his game he was funny, intelligent and a very good actor with an infectious personality.”

In Oh Hello! Hawtrey regales stories of his time in the film industry, working with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and starring in films including The Ghost of St Michael’s, Passport to Pimlico and many, many Carry On films. Hawtrey made more than 100 film and TV performances in his career, a great many more than most of his Carry On film colleagues.

This was a fact of which he obsessed, and his status in the Carry On films was a huge concern for him, which led him to eventually fall out with the Carry On producers and anyone associated with the franchise.

But while his spats with Kenneth Williams are well known, his true nemesis in life was the bottle.

“Hawtrey was a gay alcoholic through the 1950s, 60s and 70s," said Rees.

"I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for him.

"Homosexuality was actually against the law for much of his life so it must have been horribly challenging being such a colourful character.

"Today he would most probably have gone into rehab and come out the other side lauded for his bravery… this was not the case in his era."

The Torch Theatre Company’s production of Oh Hello! runs tonight (Wednesday), Thursday and Friday, then tours to various venues in Wales before running at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe between August 3 and 29.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or ring 01646 695267.