HAVING played DCI Burnside in The Bill for five years, actor Christopher Ellison is used to catching crooks.

But he will be on the other side of the goodie/ baddie divide when he plays Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts this Christmas.

On a lightning visit to Poole to get a handle on Hook, Chris can’t wait to play one of theatre’s classic bad guys.

“Hook is a great part to play, a really good baddie,” he says.

“People always say it because it’s true, but baddies really are the best roles. I’ve always played villains ever since I began in The Sweeney in the 1970s – even Burnside, he was a bad cop really. He just made people feel safer because he could make everything better. He’s about as far from me as it’s possible to be.”

With two performances already sold out, Peter Pan opens at Lighthouse on Friday December 4 also starring Jamie Quinn as Pan and Lighthouse favourite Neil Smye as Smee.

For tickets and information, call 0844 406 8666, or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk.