STEPHEN Purdon seems to have it all at the moment.

He’s River City’s longest-running character, which is testament to his character Bob Adams’ popularity.

He has two lovely kids with wife Nicola (whom he first met at primary school), Layla and Leo,

And right now he’s back the Pavilion in panto, starring in Elfie’s Magical Adventure.

So what’s it all about, Elfie? Stephen stars as Kev in the panto, which tells of the how Elfie is on a quest to save Christmas. Elfie, we learn, is joined by his Mammy (Craig Glover) and his pal Fairy Snowflake (Nicola Park) on a journey to far and distant lands. Such as Easterhouse.

It’s Stephen’s tenth panto in twelve years. The actor admits he has loved panto ever since he was a youngster and a member of community theatre group Toonspeak, which is based in Royston.

“One year we did Peter Pan, we me playing Tinkerbell,” he recalls, smiling of the occasion playing before a few dozen people.

Then one year, Stephen found himself on the Pavilion stage, in front of 1600. Stephen, just 21 at the time, was a last-minute recruit to the show, Jack and the Beanstalk, when Janette Tough pulled out after the beanstalk collapsed.

He was such a success Stephen became a Pavilion panto regular.

“I missed one because of River City film commitments and the other because I was ill,” he recalls.

Back in 2011, Carntyne-born Stephen, who now lives in Stepps, had suspected meningitis. A series of blinding headaches saw him hospitalised.

“I was on treatment for a year in 2011, and missed a full run of River City so I wasn’t well enough to do the panto.

“But thankfully I recovered completely and my fitness is great. I still play five-a-side football, Mondays and Thursday, outside of panto season of course.”

Stephen loves his appearances at the Pavilion panto.

“I get to go to work right in the heart of the city centre. And his year, I get to team up with Grado, who I know of course from River City.”

Bob and Buster, played by Grado, were love rivals. They both had the hots for Ellie, played by Leah MacRae. But Bob’s ardour cooled after she married Buster in Vegas.

In recent weeks Bob has tried internet dating, only to end up with his pal’s mum Suzie (Juliet Cadzow). And his great storylines are set to continue.

We learn Bob will become involved with Kim (Francis Thorburn) whom he met at a speed dating session. Already, Bob seems keen. But there is something strange about the lady.

Yet, if that doesn’t develop, Bob can always fall back on his bromance with Angus. The pair are now such an item they are name-blended as Bogus.

“I love my storylines,” says Stephen. “The stories have been a mix of heavy stuff with my brother and the lighter side, with the dating, which is perfect.

“And I’m looking forward to the filming year ahead.”

Meantime, the actor is having a great time playing alongside wrestler Grado in Elfie, as the dim brothers.

“It’s great working with Grado. He’s a really good guy and I love him because he says what he thinks.

“And because we get on so well off stage we really bounce off each other quite well. It’s also great to work with someone who loves being out there on the panto stage as much as me.”

Stephen says an added delight of appearing in panto is his four year-old daughter Layla loves seeing her dad up there on stage.

“She came to the panto last year and she can quote lines from the show. That gives an idea how involved she was.”

What’s also been a major positive in Stephen’s life is his new head of hair.

At the beginning of the year the 33 year-old had a hair transplant. Now, it’s all grown in and thicker than the character he plays.

And the actor is delighted.

“I got it done in January and was back filming mid-February.”

He adds, smiling; “Because we shoot so far in advance I was a wee bit concerned that I’d be seen in one episode of River City looking thin on top and the next I’d have a full head of Tony Blair.

“But that hasn’t happened. The new hair grew in gradually and now I’m delighted with it.”

He could have pretended not to have had the transplant in the first place?

“No, I wanted people to know. I put it up on social media because I wanted it out there.

“I wanted other guys to know it can work and that’s why I was open with everybody.”

He adds, grinning; “I’ve never used a hairdryer in my life until now.”

• Elfie’s Magical Adventure, The Pavilion Theatre, until January 15.