WIRRAL actor Louis Emerick returns to the Liverpool Empire next week in the stage tour of The Full Monty.

The former Brookside and Last Of The Summer Wine star plays out-of-work steelworker Horse in the show – based on the smash-hit 1997 film – which will be staged from next Monday to Saturday, November 7-12.

Adapted by Simon Beaufoy it also features Gary Lucy as Gaz, Andrew Dunn as Gerald, Chris Fountain as Guy, Kai Owen as Dave and Anthony Lewis as Lomper.

Also in the cast (pictured, below) are Andrew Ashford, Adam Beresford, Pauline Fleming, William Ilkley, Jonathan McGarrity, Charlotte Powell, Jess Schofield and Fiona Skinner.

Wirral Globe:

Louis, who lives in Wallasey, returns to the role of Horse following acclaimed appearances in the 2014 and 2015 national tours.

He told the Globe: "It's got a great story, but it's been hijacked by the last three minutes.

"It's certainly the biggest thing I've done in my career, because I've never been involved in a number one tour before."

The show won the UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production.

The film about six out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose took the world by storm becoming one of the most successful British films ever made.

It featured Robert Carlyle, who also appeared in Trainspotting and James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

And as Louis explained, its story still resonates today, probably more so now than ever.

He said: "It's based in the 1980s, but it's still hugely relevant to today, when hundreds of people are still losing their jobs."

On returning to the Empire, the 53-year-old said: "I was at the Empire two years ago in panto with Ray Quinn.

"Appearing on stage at a place that I used to walk past daily when I was a kid is still a strange feeling."

Born in the Toxteth, Louis started out his theatrical life as a member of Genesis Theatre.

Early screen appearances included ITV comedy Home to Roost, Floodtide and the TV movie Ball-Trap on the Cote Sauvage.

In 1989 Louis, he joined the popular Channel Four soap Brookside and remained with the show for 12 years.

He has also appeared in Cold Feet, The Bill, Merseybeat, Holby City, Doctors and as Mike Bateman in Casualty.

Recent TV credits include New Tricks, Doctors and Silent Witness (all for the BBC), Channel 4's Hollyoaks Later, Crime Stories for ITV, the feature film Lapse of Honour and the recurring role of Norman the Doormen in ITV's Benidorm.

Looking to the future, he said: "We have a break at Christmas and I'm in panto at the White Rose Theatre in Leeds, alongside Jimmy Cricket and the legendary Ken Dodd as the makes an appearance via digital projection in the Wicked Queen's mirror.

"I'm also appearing in the new series of BBC drama Moving On.

"I don't want to give anything away about it, but the role I'm playing is quite different to that audiences will be familiar with.

"As an actor you always try to stretch yourself, and I hope it is well-recieved.

"The end product was shown during a screening at Bafta.

"It's exciting times."

Tickets for The Full Monty are from the Liverpool Empire Theatre box office on 0151 702 7320