BONNIE Langford made her debut on the West End at the tender age of seven. "I feel very lucky," said Bonnie, who is heading to Torquay this month in a new touring production of Spamalot.

"I didn't choose it as a career. It's just a calling.

"My great aunt was a dancer who travelled the world. That sounds rather classy compared to what I do.

"But entertainment is definitely something that is in the family genes.

"My sister went down the ballet route. I loved to dance and wanted too, but I didn't do it as well.

"Ballet at least was blatantly too serious for me. Being on the stage was almost therapy for me.

"I knew that I wanted to do it more than anything else in the world. That experience as a youngster set me up for this crazy life now."

Bonnie's first role was in a musical adaptation of Gone with the Wind at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

The following year, she played Baby June in Gypsy opposite Angela Lansbury at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Bonnie made such an impact that the producers took her to America with the show for a nationwide tour and a highly successful season on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Having finished her schooling at 16, she joined the original cast of Cats to create the role of Rumpleteaser at the New London Theatre — an astonishing achievement.

She returned to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, with The Pirates of Penzance playing Kate and later Mabel in the national tour and limited season of the show at the London Palladium.

"Showbusiness isn't glamorous at all," she said.

"It really isn't, although you get the odd glimmer emerging on occasion.

"The thing that I love is that you can communicate with so many people.

"It is a very rare opportunity and a gift. I'm really honoured.

"Years later people come up to you and say that they have remembered a show that I was part of. I think 'Why is that still in your brain?'"

Bonnie has packed a wealth of experience into her career which has embraced success in theatre, television, film and radio in both Britain and over America where she now lives.

"I haven't been on tour for some time, I've been in America. In the UK everywhere seems near in comparison. Four hours on the road is a walk in the park.

"I love America. I was doing Chicago on Broadway and my own cabaret. Audiences are different in America — they are a bit more vocal. Mind you, the British aren't too far behind.

"They similarities are that everyone wants to have a good time when they go to the theatre.

"In the US they tend to be very supportive people and they are happy to tell if they like you."

Bonnie garnered rave reviews for her portrayal of Roxie Hart in Chicago both on Broadway and on the north American national tour, a role which she also played to standing ovations at the Adelphi Theatre and the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End.

For now, however, the focus is on Spamalot.

Audiences all around the world have been roaring with laughter since Monty Python's Spamalot won the Tony Award for best musical.

The show tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people.

The show features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation's Favourite Comedy Song (Reader's Digest Poll 2010) Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

The original UK and Ireland production began in May 2010 and was seen by more than 300,000 people over 50 weeks.

During that time there were seven on-stage moustache incidents, one suspected case of swine flu, one outbreak of nits and 36 pairs of coconuts used — Todd Carty is stronger then he looks.

The cast looked Looked on the Bright Side of Life a staggering 791 times in more than 378 performances (and they still don't know the words).

"It sounds like a lot of fun," said Bonnie. "But I haven't seen it yet.

"I don't know who is in it and I'm not really sure where we are going.

"Everyone else seems to have seen it and says it is fantastic. I did see a bit of the rehearsal and it looked hilarious. I can't wait."