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Mark Little takes the lead as Script-writer Alan, in a new play called Seriel Killers, running from Saturday 29th October to Saturda 26th November at the Derby Assembly rooms.

Since his role as Joe Mangle in Neighbours, he's enjoyed success in film (indcluding Nivarna Street Murder), as a t.v. presenter (The Big Breakfast) and as a stand-up comedian. So why return to theatre? "I love working in the theatre, I'd say performing live is my favourite thing" says Mark. Mark's previously appeared in the West End, sharing the role of Leigh Bowery with Boy George in Taboo. Serial Killers itself will move to the West End at the end of it's Derby run, and mark would "absolutely love" to reprise the role there.

He's also written his own play. "I wrote this thing called The Test. It's a play about cricket, set at Lords, and I figure that cricket's kinda popular right now". I couldn't resist asking him if he would be playing a losing Aussie cricket player. "No, no, I would play the manager".

Mark's a talented guy and seems to pick and choose his work well. An aledged fall out with Zoe Ball on the Big Breakfast hasn't put him off tv presenting, and it's something he would like to return to. "The Big Breakfast was good because it was live and irreverent, you know, and to an extent you could do your own thing. If I was going to do that kind of thing again though I would prefer it to be late at night, so I could do more with it".

Despite his success outside of Neighbours, Mark's still full of affection for the show, and his character, Joe Mangle. "The interesting thing about that is that Joe, in a way, held me back a bit. I was seen as Joe Mangle the gardener from Neighbours for a while and it was quite tough to break free from that". You may be surprised then, that he's reprised the role and is now back on our screens every tea time. "I feel that I have done enough since Neighbours to establish myself in other fields, but I do have a lot of affection for that show, it was a big part of my life for many years, and for a dumb australian show it's done incredibly well. I have no snobbery towards it at all", he says. Mark sounds dissapointed in a way, that more of the former cast didn't take an offer to return for Neighbour's birthday celebrations, but he says, simply "that's their choice". He wouldn't be drawn on what storylines we could expect, though. "Well... I cant give it away you know. But, there may be a love interest. And very early on, there's a nude scene! It's changed a lot actually, it's become so racy!". It's good to hear that Mark has exactly the same kind of tongue in cheek love for the show, that it's millions of fans has. Mark's back in the show for a four month run "because if I was going to do it, I didn't want it to be Joe Mangle comes back to Ramsey Street, says hi then leaves again, I had to do it propperly".

He was clearly the ideal candidate then, for Serial Killers. "The show features it's own show, that the audience can see on video screens". That show is Heart of Hearts", and when the charactor Andrew Lomas learns that scriptwriters are planning to write him out of the show, he takes the storylines into his own hands. Mark says "it's funny, soap fans, and non soap fans will love it, but its also dark in places, there's a propper mystery". The show, which also features Ben Steel from Home and Away, is very true to his experiences. "Well i've had to deal with actor's raging ego's and stupid scriptwriters before and it captures that!". Is he saying that some of the Neighbours cast had over sized egos and the script writers were crap then? "Hell yeah, and i've told them so more than once".

As for the future for Mark, he says he doesn't like to make concrete plans and is happy to go with the flow. Maybe this time next year, i'll be previewing his play "The Test". Or maybe he would take a role in a British soap. "Well the one I would have done was Eldorado! That show was great! They cancelled it far too early, that show could have been as big as Neighbours". And what about following in Kylie and Jason's steps and releasing a record, surely all he needs is a pair of gold hot pants? "Yeah nice idea mate, I might have a stab at it at the end of the year, you never know".

Serial Killers, a play by James Griffin, runs 29/10/05 - 26/11/05 at the Derby Playhouse. For Tickets, visit www.derbyplayhouse.co.uk or call the box office on 01332 363275.