FORMER Hollyoaks star and Radio 4 playwright John Graham Davies is bringing his latest play to Nelson's ACE Centre.

Beating Berlusconi is based on the bizarre true story of a real Liverpool fan who ended up sitting next to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the Ataturk Stadium, in Istanbul.

The one man show, which stars Brookside actor Paul Duckworth, kicks off a 26 date tour of the country next week and is coming to Nelson on February 13.

The comedy play retells the story of lifelong Liverpool fan Mark Radley, a cobbler from Allerton, who found his way into the AC Milan VIP box for the Champion’s League final in 2005 where he sat with Italy's Prime Minister.

When Liverpool equalised, Mark couldn't suppress his feelings, Berlusconi lost his temper and the two squared up.

Hauled away by Turkish security guards, Mark was amazed to be taken to the Liverpool VIP area instead.

Writer and producer John, who is best known for playing Les Hunter in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, said from the moment he heard the story he knew he needed to write about it.

“I had got to know Mark when I moved to the area for Hollyoaks,” said John, who has also starred in Heartbeat and Coronation Street.

“We used to have a chat about football every time I went and when he told me about this story, straight away I thought there had to be something in it.

“It’s such a remarkable tale which we have taken on to become a play about one man’s attempt to rediscover his belief in himself, his club, his city and his class.”

Now, after rave reviews in Liverpool, Paul Duckworth and his 40 characters take to the road to tell the story of love and friendship, of defeat and victory in this lump-in-your-throat comedy.

l BEATING BERLUSCONI — The Ace Centre, Nelson February 13 at 7pm. Tickets are £10, £8 concessions from box office on 01282661080.