Actor Stephen Carlile has taken the brave decision to leave the cast of the smash hit The Producers he told Lewis Cowen why.

Wiltshire actor Stephen Carlile is about to undergo something of a culture shock when he gives up strutting around in Jackboots in West End hit The Producers to sing one of the most romantic songs ever written for the stage.

Stephen, born in Westbury and educated at Devizes School, is leaving the cast of Mel Brooks's anarchic musical version of his hilarious film after a year.

He said: "A year is long enough in any show. I have enjoyed every moment of it but in the end you have to move on. But I was a bit nervous about casting myself adrift."

So, without the prospect of any further work, Mr Carlile gave in his notice and prepared for a possibly long period "resting", the euphemism for unemployment used by members of the acting profession. But out of the blue came an audition for the Royal National Theatre production of My Fair Lady, which Cameron Mackintosh will be touring at top venues throughout the country from the end of September.

Stephen was offered the part of Freddy Eynsford-Hill, the impoverished upper-class lad who falls head over heels in love with Eliza Doolittle, the cockney flower girl being groomed by Professor Higgins as a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering.

In the part Mr Carlile will be singing the superb love song On The Street Where You Live.

He said: "It's a fabulous song and I couldn't be happier about getting the part."

Trained at Bath College and Guildford Drama School, Mr Carlile has had a wonderful run of work lately.

He came out of Phantom of the Opera to start rehearsals for The Producers, which was an experience he will never forget.

He said: "We had all those problems with Richard Dreyfuss and Nathan Lane, who had played the main character of Victor Bialystok on Broadway, taking over at three weeks' notice.

"He and Lee Evans, who played the other main part, got on like a house on fire. They had done a film together so they knew each other well.

"I used to stand in the wings and watch them rehearse. I couldn't tear myself away from the side of the stage. They were brilliant."

The success of The Producers was not guaranteed, despite being a huge hit on Broadway.

Many Broadway transfers have hit the buffers when faced with the more discerning British public.

But, in fact, the West End reaction was even more delirious that in New York.

Mr Carlile said: "Mel Brooks had been told that British audiences were more reserved and wouldn't cheer and applaud they way they do in New York.

"That's a load of rubbish. The West End audiences were absolutely ecstatic."

In My Fair Lady, Mr Carlile will be working with some other polished professionals, perhaps not as gifted comedically as Messrs Lane and Evans.

Christopher Cazanove plays Professor Higgins, while former soap star Amy Nuttall plays Eliza and madcap comic Russ Abbott reprises his role as her dustman father Albert Doolittle.

Former Avengers star Honor Blackman plays Higgins' mother, though Hannah Gordon takes it over halfway through the run.

My Fair Lady is not coming to Bath because the Theatre Royal is too small but it plays at the Bristol Hippodrome for four weeks from Wednesday January 23.

The show will open in Manchester with previews from September 28 while the nailbiting press night will be on October 5.

In the midst of all that excitement, though, Stephen is taking time out to perform in a concert at St Mary's School in Calne on Sunday October 2 with that legend of the British musical, Julian Slade.

He said: "I've worked with Julian many times and it is always a great pleasure. I hope everyone will come and see the show in Calne."

Tickets, at £15 a head including canaps and wine, are available from David Hide on (01666) 825501.