Happy Days star Henry Winkler takes to the stage in Liverpool

Four years ago, Henry "The Fonz" Winkler had no idea what a pantomime was - but when he discovered it came hand in hand with the opportunity to wear a pirates hat and carry a sword, the swashbuckling star jumped at the opportunity.

Winkler takes the role of Hook for the fourth year running, this time at the Liverpool Empire Theatre alongside panto favourites Les Dennis and Natasha Hamilton.

Hook opens on December 11th, and after just a days rehearsals Winkler is convinced the show will be a huge festive hit.

He said: "I love Peter Pan, it’s joyful, it’s fun. Playing the captain is so much fun, he’s a really wonderful character. he goes from being silly to funny.

"Acting on stage is about making the audience laugh and Peter Pan is a story that’s bent to the left.

"Natasha is going to be an unbelievably great Peter Pan, and Les Dennis, well, I haven’t met him yet because he was getting married, I’ll meet him Friday. So so far he’s a slacker!"

But the popular TV star, who also appeared alongside Adam Sandler in The Waterboy, has revealed there's much more to him than swinging his panto sword, and Fonzie's famous catchphrase, "Ehhhhh!".

"Sure I've had a great time, and I've been incredibly lucky," he said, "but I've got some regrets too.

"A lot of people don't know, I turned down the part of Danny in Grease when it was offered to me. I’d done The Fonz and didn’t want to play the same character.

"So they offered it to John Travolta. I went home and bought a soda and he went home and bought a plane."

The 64-year-old actor touched down in Liverpool on Sunday, and revealed he's eager to try out some of the culture before he heads back to LA.

"I first came here when I was 14 but I didn't get chance to see the city, so now I’ve got to experience Liverpool properly.

And he's revealed that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has invited him to attend the Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, as an honorary Evertonian.

"Everyone has been so unbelievably warm, and on Sunday I’m watching the derby game. I've been asked by a man called Bill to go in a box."

Tickets for HOOK are available now from the online at www.liverpoolempire.org.uk, at the Empire box office, or by calling 0844 847 2525.

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