the fonz henry winkler as captain hook in peter pan at the liverpool empire

By Catherine Jones on Nov 12, 09 09:00 AM

Henry Winkler is on his way to Liverpool in the next week or two to start rehearsals for Peter Pan alongside Les Dennis and Natasha Hamilton.
And he called me from home in LA last week to explain why he's so excited to get back to Liverpool for the first time in 50 years.

He was also particuarly excited because the night before he'd become a grand-dad for the first time, with little Indya Belle born in New York.
And, he told me, just that morning he'd also had his swine flu jab.
I worry panto may not be able to live up to those two experiences!!
With new arrivals in the family I was somewhat surprised Henry wanted to spend a fourth festive season away from his Californian home.
"On the practical side, I'm earning a living," he told me. "On the fulfilment side, I'm doing what I love. And it really, in the long term, is a very short time.
"And I spend a lot of time at home and I get little notes saying 'go back to England' - I don't know who's sending them to me!"
Anyway, LA's loss is Liverpool's gain this Christmas.
Read my Henry Winkler interview in today's Echo....