STAR of the West End, Dave Willetts finally "gets the girl" when he appears in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

He is touring with the show which visits Manchester and says it is a welcome escape from the "tortured souls" he normally portrays.

But before turning into the romantic hero of the piece, Dave was catching up on a "year's worth of domesticity" when the Bolton Evening News caught up with him.

He said: "Before we start rehearsals I have got all the jobs around the house to do. A year's worth of domesticity has to be fitted in before I begin the tour."

Dave has appeared in the lead roles of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, among many other favourites. He said: "This role is a bit of a change for me. I seem to have cornered the market in tortured souls.

"Although anyone who has been to see my concerts will realise that they are not as heavy going as people may imagine.

"But it is nice to go on and get the girl at the end of the show.

"This is one of the classic shows. Everyone remembers it as the movie with Howard Keel.

"It is one of the films I remember from being young. It belongs to an era which also included Oklahoma and Carousel.

"It was a really special time, and they live on even to this day. I wonder how many of today's films will have the same longevity.

"I was asked to do this role. It is always nice when the telephone rings. There are certain things which you get offered and you have no hesitation in accepting."

Despite his success in numerous previous shows, Dave still relishes the whole process of putting a production together. He said: "I even love rehearsals -- getting the team together, and working as one for the best result.

"I have always enjoyed being a team player. You have to be in this line of work. If you are not working as one the audience spots it. They always sense when someone is faking it." Dave is a former manager of an engineering company who has never had a singing, acting or dancing lesson. But he did become involved in amateur dramatics before turning professional. He said: "I kind of bumbled my way into the profession. I used to do am-dram, and once I got into the professional world it all happened quite quickly for me. I got the opportunity to audition for Jean Valjean in Les Mis in the West End within 12 months."

He was employed as understudy and when he was given his chance to fill in for the lead, he was a resounding success.

When he played the role of the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, he became the first person in the world to play that role and the lead in Les Mis.

After Phantom, Dave starred in a number of musicals and received great critical acclaim when he sang the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Barbican Centre in London. He went on to perform the same part in the 1993 European tour.

He has played at prestigious concert halls in many parts of the world including the Royal Albert Hall, London.

In 1991, he was invited to be the only British performer for a concert in Los Angeles on behalf of the American Cinema Awards Foundation to honour James Stewart and Lauren Bacall.

He has presented his own shows on national BBC radio and was the subject of a This Is Your Life programme.

He has made three solo albums and many show albums.

And he is quick to agree: "People would give their right arm to get to do what I do."

Dave was born in Birmingham and now lives in Warwickshire, 10 miles from Stratford. he said: "I have lived around the country with previous jobs, but we finally settled on a little village and have built our own house.

"When I went to work for a time in Australia, we sold up the house and my wife and children came to live out there with me.

"When we returned to this country we bought some land and built a house based on the one we had in Australia -- the only difference is that we do not now overlook the Pacific of course."

Dave says he still relishes the challenge of a live show. He said: "I would love to do a film, but I think in some ways it is easier than life on the stage. You can not go back on a live performance -- that's it, matey. You fall on that second.

"I never allow myself to have too strong a burning ambition because there is always the danger it will eat away at you."

But which of the roles he has played is his favourite?

"People expect me to refer to Les Mis or Phantom. They were terrific, but my favourite has to be Charlie and Algernon, written by lyricist Charles Strouse, the man responsible for Annie."

And with that Dave gets on with catching up on his domestic chores around the house.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers runs at the Opera House in Manchester from Tuesday to Saturday, March 5 to 9. For tickets telephone 0161 242 2524.