FOR the under-sevens, TV stars don't get much bigger than Mr Bloom. And now he's heading back to Blackburn with his first full theatre show.

Actor Ben Faulks, the creator of one of CBeebies most successful programmes in recent years, and who plays Mr Bloom is no stranger to Blackburn, having appeared at the last two Countryside Comes to Town events in the town centre.

"I know Blackburn well and it's nice to be coming back and this time playing King George's Hall. We're all very much looking forward to it."

Although this will be the first time Mr Bloom has been on a theatre tour, Ben is no stranger to taking his character on the road.

"Mr Bloom started off as an outdoor street theatre show and I toured around festivals and events," he said. "Then when I had kids they started watching pre-school TV and CBeebies in particular and I saw that there was an avenue for a show like mine."

Ben spent a year reworking his street theatre show for TV before pitching it to the BBC.

"I was lucky that the time was right and they liked it and Mr Bloom's Nursery was born," he said.

The simple story of Mr Bloom and the young vegetable - the Veggies - has run on CBeebies since 2011.

"For the live show there's a brand new storyline with some new characters which the kids won't have seen before," said Ben. "It's a real adventure to be able to do a live show and very exciting to have other characters from the show with me. Usually it's just me rocking up but now I'll have the cast with me.

"It is very much a family show so there is stuff in there for the adults too."

Appearing on TV for a pre-school audience means a lot of mums are also regular viewers of Mr Bloom's Nursery but Ben plays down reports that he's become something of a sex symbol.

"That's all rumours and hearsay," he said. "It's a family show so it's nice other members of the family can enjoy it."

Taking the show out into theatres means Ben can develop the show for a live audience.

"It is a real interactive show which hinges on the audience's participation although we won't be getting children up on stage like in a panto. They will be involved in more imaginative ways."

One of the reasons Mr Bloom's Nursery has been so successful on TV is the storylines which youngsters relate to.

"Like all CBeebies programmes, it is not just entertainment for entertainment sake," said Ben. "There is always a learning point which the audience can take away.

"The show works on many different levels but at its core the show is about nurture, it's about Mr Bloom nurturing these baby vegetables."

Although CBeebies is aimed at viewers aged seven and under, Ben expects to see many older children in the audience for the live shows.

"Because Bloom has been on TV since 2011, the audience is continually changing," said Ben. "There are kids now who will come up to me and say how much they enjoyed the programme when they were younger.

"There is an element of nostalgia about going to see the show live for some of them. Who doesn't like a bit of childhood nostalgia

"I still have it now, Put something made by Oliver Postgate on the TV and I go all dewy eyed."

Performing live in front of hundreds of youngsters would prove daunting to even the most experienced hand but Ben isn't daunted by the prospect of the show ahead.

"In some respects a theatre show is easier," he said. "When you are performing outdoors people are standing around and there is recognised protocol as to how you should act.

"In a theatre you have the seats and the stage and there's a certain etiquette the audience picks up on. It's a more controlled environment and also in a theatre there is so much more that you can do technically.

"We want to put on a good show and do things that we have not done before. It's genuinely really exciting to take it from a script and work it up with the cast to get the whole thing to the stage."

Mr Bloom's Nursery Live, King George's Hall, Blackburn, Monday, February 13, 2pm Details from 0844 847 1664