SEX, caravanning and comedy? Sounds a bit like a Hale and Pace sketch Gareth Hale's theatre debut is his type of play.

The entertainer has taken the plunge from the riotous comedy circuit to the earnest theatre halls for Perfect Pitch.

Gareth says: "I've got to admit it's a bit intimidating and there's no place to hide. But it is actually very exciting to work with good actors and have a good play to work with.

"Yes, the story does have a little bit of Hale and Pace about it but I'm an admirer of John Godber's work and that's why I decided to do it.

"It's been a very interesting experience because audiences are very different in the theatre to what I'm used to. I've had to be on my toes."

Perfect Pitch tells the story of a retired headteacher and his wife who find the perfect place for their new luxury caravan.

Everything's set for the holiday of a lifetime until a battered old caravan turns up in the same field with the neighbour from hell played by Gareth.

"There are elements of slapstick in this and it's not played at a breakneck pace.

The drama is built-up gradually and the laughter is then amplified when the comedy comes. It takes a bit of getting used to."

Although Gareth's theatre career has achieved lift off, he'll eternally be linked to Norman Pace who'll actually be up the road in High Wycombe preparing for Honk as Hale finishes his stint in Windsor.

"Yes, isn't that strange? I didn't realise that we'd be working so closely together. Now you've mentioned it I'll probably meet up with him in the area.

"When you look back at some of the stuff we used to do, it was a fantastic laugh. We are both on a similar wavelength and have a similar sense of humour."

Gareth and Norman are both former teachers who were friends before they teamed up.

Gareth says: "I really enjoyed teaching and we both did it for about four years. A lot of us had set up music and comedy groups outside of college and gradually these were taking over our lives."

The duo first achieved cult status with audiences at The Tramshed in Woolwich, South London. They played there for seven years and were then spotted at the Edinburgh Festival by Alan Nixon who helped them secure a Radio 4 series of their own.

Channel 4's The Management was their break in TV as the Two Rons exchanged philosophical chit-chat.

But it was ITV's Hale and Pace that really cemented their reputation as challenging comics drawing in audiences of all ages.

"The Management became the revolving door and led to something else. We never really expected the success of that or the Hale and Pace Show. It was amazing because we seem to become successful overnight."

He feels comedy is still in a healthy state and lists Alan Partridge and Ali G as among his favourite performers.

"I think comedy is in a healthy state. I think there's challenging stuff around like The Royle Family and people like Ali G are just great."

The father-of-two is golf mad but like every sports-mad bloke he wants to be sitting at home watching The Lions taking on the Aussies rather than working. However he is determined not to miss out on any of the action and says his wife is recording it for him for when he gets home.

"But it's just not the same as watching it live, is it?" he sighs.

Perfect Pitch is at the Theatre Royal. Windsor from July 9 to 14. For tickets call 01753 853888