MATTHEW Kelly stars in the touring production Of Mice and Men which comes to Blackpool Grand Theatre until March 8.

The popular TV host appears as Lennie, opposite George Costigan's George in the classic tale of two friends, their loyalty and their dreams.

The two friends find themselves moving from farm to farm in search of work as the Great Depression sweeps across America. They are determined to scrape together their big stake and buy the farm of their dreams. But the American Dream is never realised and their friendship is tested to its limits.

Of Mice and Men is one of the classic stories of the 20th century, written and adapted for the stage by America's greatest novelist, and Nobel Prize winner, John Steinbeck. This production is touring the country and will also be playing at The Lowry. Matthew Kelly's name may have been splashed across the front pages of newspapers for all the wrong reasons recently. But now with his name cleared, the celebrity television presenter of Stars in their Eyes, can concentrate on his stage performances. His stage career spans more than three decades with credits including Twelfth Night at Birmingham Rep, the RNT tour of The Pied Piper, Funny Peculiar in the West End and of course his appearance in Blue Remembered Hills at the Bolton Octagon.

George Costigan was recently seen in Linda Green on BBC TV. He was Mickey in the original production of Blood Brothers both in Liverpool and the West End and was Bob in Alan Clarke's ground-breaking film Rita, Sue and Bob Too.

The production features a set -- a 1930's Californian Ranch -- which takes up the whole of the stage at Blackpool Grand Theatre.

For tickets telephone 01253 290190.