A stage version of ITV’s top comedy of all time, Rising Damp, will bring a touch of the TV classic to the stage with original cast member Don Warrington directing.

The TV programme ran between 1974 and 1978, following Rupert Rigsby and the variety of tenants who rent his shabby bedsits in a rundown Victorian house.

His unlucky tenants include Ruth Jones, an administrator at the university, Alan, a medical student, and Philip, who is studying town and country planning.

Between them, Alan and Philip are the focus and foil of the majority of Rigsby’s many prejudices, usually at the expense of his dignity and standing in the eyes of Miss Jones, with whom he is hopelessly and pathetically in love.

Director Don Warrington is best known for having played the part of Philip in Rising Damp alongside Leonard Rossiter and Richard Beckinsale, but he is now taking to directing the stage version, which began touring in May.

He says: “It’s very different. Obviously that was a long, long time ago when we did it and directing is very different to acting.

“I wanted to do it for the fact that I am a fledgling director and I like directing and I had the time to do it. Sometimes you think, well here’s a bus, should I get on it? And I thought, well I will get on it.

“The most challenging thing about directing is helping actors to be better and trying to find ways of freeing an actor up.”

Born in Trinidad, Warrington has a string of theatre, film and television credits under his belt, including Driving Miss Daisy, Red Dwarf and Hamlet.

Rising Damp; Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, Monday, July 15, to Saturday, July 20; 7.30pm Monday to Saturday and matinees at 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are £10 to £25 (premium seats at £29.50) and are available from the box office on 0844 8717651 or atgtickets.com/richmond (fees apply).