LIVERPOOl seems to produce actors the way Eton produces cabinet ministers.

Just think of the Scouse success stories in acting; the McGann Brothers, David Morrissey, Jason Isaacs, Ian Hart, Alison Steadman, Ricky Tomlinson, Stephen Graham … and even Kim Catrall.

And Mark Moraghan of course, who’s enjoyed several long-running roles in the likes of Holby City, Casualty and Heartbeat.

Why does Liverpool throw them out, as it were, Mark?

“It’s possibly because of people such as The Beatles, Gerry Marsden and Ken Dodd,” he suggests.

“There was the Liverpool thing in the Sixties which sort of said success was possible.

“And there’s been that mentality in Liverpool as long as I can remember.”

The 56 year-old from Toxteth adds; “ I came through at the same time as the likes of David Morrisey and Ian hart. We did lunchtime theatre together and felt we could do anything.”

READ MORE: Munro fine tunes Captain Corelli's Mandolin to perfection

Now, Mark is starring in musical theatre show Little Miss Sunshine. Based on the Academy Award-winning film it tells of young Olive who has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest.

And when an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van.

Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California – and more importantly, can they?

There are potholes in every road, in the form of family differences.

And many of the differences are created by Grandpa, played by Mark.

“He’s such a great character,” says the actor. “He’s very non-PC. He likes to take drugs and have sex with lots of women.

“But he has lots of charm. And when he meets his granddaughter she wins him over and he becomes something of a reformed character.”

Are there any parallels with Mark Moraghan? “Yes,” he says, grinning. “I’m a bit of reformed character. But I don’t have any vices now, apart from my football team (Liverpool).

“I’m also a grandpa in real life, with four grandchildren. I’m 56 but I was a child bride, as they say.”

READ MORE: From bookies' broadcasting to fronting Peter McDougall's new play at Oran Mor

Mark Moraghan was always going to become an actor.

“It was always in my head, from the age of three or four. My Nan was a great storyteller and at family parties she would always command the rug in front of the fire. I’m sure that planted the idea in my head.

“Then in primary school my teacher saw something in me and I was cast as Peter Pan, in my very first role. I got the bug at that point.

“This continued at secondary school and I was in all the school plays.”

The acting life was confirmed when the BBC came calling, looking for young boys to appear in a Willy Russel drama.

“Me and my mate got the two leads,” says Mark, beaming in recall. “I got all this money from the BBC and thought to myself ‘This will do for me!’”

Acting life wasn’t always that easy. “I did lots of ordinary jobs along the way. I was carpenter, a drayman, a driver - while trying to keep the acting thing going alongside it.”

Mark adds; “Once you get the taste of a live audience however the life almost becomes a necessity.

“And I just love live theatre. Don’t get me wrong, I like TV too but it’s very different. And some actors can’t make the transition.

“Plus, you have to have other strings to your bow to make it in theatre.”

Mark has those strings. He’s also a singer.

“Nicky Campbell and me did an album together, a swing album and we toured for a year with a big band. With a musical such as Little Miss Sunshine it’s great to be able to combine the two.”

Had he seen the film? “I watched it after I got this part and when I knew what I was doing with the character.

“I realised how good it was and how brilliant Alan Arkin was in the role.”

What of the American beauty pageant concept, the dressing up of little girls to look like women?

“It’s touched on,” he says of the controversy. “But the theatre show pokes fun of that genre. Olive is not the typical little pageant queen. She aspires to be at first, but she’s a normal little kid who wears glasses.

“Personally, I find the whole idea of these beauty shows all very strange.”

Miss Sunshine is a road movie, a family travels across the states in a bus. Does it translate easily to the theatre?

“It does,” he says in enthusiastic voice. “There is some great invention in this show, with the bus on stage and coming out of the wall.

“And the chairs in the dining room look fifties WV camper van seats. It works really well.”

He talks about lifting the European cup with excitement in his voice. His passion is evident.

For all your breaking Glasgow news, click here, or head to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages

Mark is delighted to be in Glasgow next week. “Glasgow and Liverpool are very similar, great working class cities. I think it has something to do with being cities on a river. And I’d put the Geordies into that category as well.”

And so many of us are of Irish descent. “Yes, me for sure. With my name.”

Could his name be a spelling mistake.

“I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there,” he says, smiling.

“It was really common for the immigrants when they landed to be given a name that was an approximation.”

Regardless, the name hasn’t stopped Mark’s acting success story. “There’s no such thing as an easy ride in this game,” he admits.

“But the parts seem to arrive when I need them. I think it’s more luck than design.

“Yet, if you stick at it and you’re determined then something comes along.”

Little Miss Sunshine, July 1-6, the King’s Theatre.