Being a Berkshire boy from a middle-class family, it was never going to be easy for John Altman to play a drug-addled cockney criminal.

But his famous portrayal of Eastenders' "Nasty" Nick Cotton, the character he played periodically from 1985 through to 2001, was so successful it led to a string of parts with a mean streak.

In his career, John has now played just about every type of baddie going.

For this reason, he says, it is very refreshing to star in a comedy.

"It has been a learning curve," he says, "but I am really enjoying it.

I'm learning the secret of t-t-ttiming, as they say in theatre."

John plays a straight copper, PC Slater, in Ray Cooney's celebrated farce Funny Money, currently showing at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing.

"Cooney is a master of comedy,"

says John. "It is a guaranteed good time. It is very entertaining and uplifting, and as a cast we really fire off each other."

For those unfamiliar with the plot, it revolves around married couple - Jean and her mildmannered accountant husband Henry - whose life is drastically transformed when he finds a fortune in "funny money" on the London Underground.

When two policeman later turn up at his house (for a different reason altogether), Henry, Jean and their friends Vic and Betty are forced into a frantic game of cat and mouse in their battle to keep the money and fob off the law.

Directed by Ian Dickens and Giles Watling, Funny Money also stars Chris Ellison (The Bill's DI Burnside), Vicki Michelle (Allo, Allo), Sally Ann Matthews (Emmerdale and Coronation Street) and Peter Blake (Kirk in Dear John).

  • Times vary, tickets cost £21. Call 01243 781312