NEVER get in the way of a man and his tea and biscuits. I found this out to my cost when speaking to veteran actor Warren Mitchell, who at the age of 82 is about to return to the Palace Theatre, Westcliff in the award-winning play Visiting Mr Green.

The performance will be a rare one for Warren, who only comes out of retirement for "extra special plays", of which Visiting Mr Green is one.

Warren has played the part of Mr Green before, both here and in Australia, and it has long been a desire to recreate what he considers the best role he has had the pleasure of performing.

In the play, Warren takes the role of a Jewish widower who is almost hit by a speeding car driven by corporate executive Ross Gardiner, played by upcoming newcomer David Sturzaker.

Found guilty of reckless driving, Ross is ordered to spend the next six months making weekly visits to Mr Green.

What starts off as a comedy about two people who resent being in the same room, develops into a gripping and poignant drama.

Warren said: "About two years ago I performed the play in Australia opposite my son. It is one of those works that are a joy to perform because it is all there on the page.

"Everything is demanding on the stage but it is still better than sitting at home doing nothing."

Jeff Baron's multi award-winning play has had more than 300 productions in 37 countries and been translated in to 22 languages.

This UK production is directed by former Chichester Festival Theatre director Patrick Garland, whose recent theatre credits include Full Circle with Joan Collins and Simon Callow in The Mystery of Charles Dickens. It debuted at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester last year.

"It has to be a good play to get me on the stage these days," added Warren. "I did say I wouldn't do another one but then I once said I wouldn't talk to journalists, and here I am."

Warren was last seen on stage in Arthur Miller's The Price, for which he won a prestigious Olivier Award, and which toured throughout the UK and at The National Theatre in 2004.

Best known as Alf Garnett in Till Death Us Do Part, he started his stage career an amazing 74 years ago, although he was learning even before that.

"Aged four, I told a dirty joke to my family - my father laughed, clipped me round the ear and sent me to bed," he said.

"I learned then that showbiz is quite tricky and audiences fickle."

The same could be said for Warren himself. Upon asking him how he felt about the character he was perhaps most famous for, Alf Garnett, I received a rather frosty response.

"No, I'm not going to talk about that and anyway my tea and biscuits have arrived, so if you don't mind I'll be going now."

Well, who could refuse an octogenarian actor of Warren's calibre, especially when it comes to tea and biscuits.