The country is in financial meltdown and the only prospect of salvation comes from some morally dubious allies.

There couldn't have been a more fitting time to relaunch the new theatrical version of classic 1980s TV series Yes, Prime Minister

Based on the popular show which ran from 1986 to 1988, following on from three series of Yes, Minister, it is now on stage and heading for Glasgow.

Written by the pair behind the original, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, it stars Simon Williams as Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby and Richard McCabe as Prime Minister Jim Hacker.

And Simon –most famous for playing Captain James Bellamy in classic costume drama Upstairs Downstairs about the wealthy 'upstairs' Bellamy family and their servants – can't wait to return to the city for a very special reason.

He said: "I was at the stage door of the Theatre Royal in Glasgow when I got the phone call saying I was being offered the part in Upstairs Downstairs.

"I was in a play called His, Hers and Theirs in 1970.

"I just thought it was another telly series. It was a big turning point, but you don't notice these things at the time.

"It was great, but the funny thing was they always treated all the 'upstairs' characters a bit like royalty, and they weren't so polite to all the servants"

Simon, 64, spent four years in the show until his character was killed off.

So he was interested to see the revival which was shown over Christmas, starring Keeley Hawes from Ashes to Ashes.

Simon said: "It's strange seeing somebody else dancing with your old wife.

"It was very nostalgic to see the old rooms being used again. I loved it."

Simon went on to become a regular in medical dramas.

He was in hospital favorite Holby City as Sir Charles Merrick from 2000-2003, guest starred in Casualty and also played a doctor in Don't Wait up with Nigel Havers.

But he admits it they weren't the most suitable roles for somebody who hates the sight of blood.

He said: "I'm very squeamish about medical things. In Casualty and Holby I had to do major surgery with fake chest cavities and blood, so I got quite queasy.

"They give you a DVD of somebody actually doing the operation and then you have to go home and watch the revolting stuff."

Simon's much more enthusiastic about his role in Yes, Prime Minister.

He's on tour for 20 weeks and will then carry on in the role when the show returns to London's West end.

He said: "Unlike a lot of the touring shows of sitcoms, this is not a cobbled-together script,.This is written about the original characters in a modern setting.

"It's the best of the old characters and the new situation. It just goes down terribly well. Everybody's had enough of polititians.

"The show really puts the boot in. In the last scene, the clapping and cheering from the audience shows there's a certain kind of feeling of revolt going on.

"People are sick of all the shenanigans and the expenses, and it's great to do.

"It really makes you aware of what's going on, all the lies and nonsense that comes out of Westminster,

"There are some witty remarks and some really good jokes. There's pretty constant laughter."

And though the writers have never identified which party the Prime Minister represents, Simon says his co-star Richard McCabe has a familiar look.

He said: "Richard looks a bit like Alex Salmond funnily enough. And he has a crumpled suit like Gordon Brown."

And though he's turning 65 next month, Simon, whose son and daughter Tam and Amy followed him into acting, has no plans to retire.

He said: "I don't think actors retire. There should be a car sticker that says. 'Old actors don't die, their parts shrivel up'."

l Yes Prime Minister is at the Theatre Royal from Monday June 20 until 25. Buy tickets from the box office or on 08448 717648.