THERE is no side-stepping the elephant in the room. Since day immemorial – or at least the invention of Technicolor – presenting children’s TV has been treated as a plug-gap, the obligatory rung up the hosting ladder to the coveted spots on breakfast shows, talent pageants and audience-baiting reality series.

But for the Peter Pans of this world, namely Phil Gallagher aka CBeebies’s Mister Maker, becoming a crafts whiz and rocking pre-schoolers’ playtime was a lifelong ambition.

“I had a dream when I was little to be a kids’ TV presenter,” says the 38-year-old with trademark jauntiness.

“My heroes were Phillip Schofield and Andi Peters. I loved arts and crafts and watching shows like Art Attack. I used to do arts and crafts with my grandpa – he was a talented carpenter, but it was just as a hobby. He is the original Mister Maker.”

His early career, which saw him rise from glorified barista (understand intern) at BBC Radio Kent to sports reporter before making a u-turn to the then fledgling Disney Channel, is at odds with most of his predecessors’ in the industry.

“I loved going to football games,” he booms. “You would have sandwiches and tea brought to you – I didn’t have to make them anymore.

“Then I got this opportunity. I knew someone who was friends with somebody who worked at Disney Channel,” he adds with a chuckle.

“It was quite new to the UK then. I got a runners job and learned skills behind the camera as well as in front of it. I worked my way up.”

In 2007, he auditioned for the part of Mister Maker and, two years later, Phil, who has enjoyed a string of pantomime roles, was nominated for a children’s BAFTA. Terrified at the prospect of actually hearing his name called as the winner, he was almost relieved to narrowly lose to Richard Hammond.

“I was really nervous about winning; you’ve got to make a speech!”, he deadpans. “It was a real honour to be nominated.”

Fresh from an Australian tour, which saw him perform to sold-out crowds at the Sidney Opera House, he is taking his new theatre show Mister Maker & The Shapes Live on the road.

“We wanted to bring the core and creativity of Mister Maker to the stage but make it bigger and more spectacular. You will get to see Mister Maker do things he has never done before,” he adds cryptically before volunteering: “I will be doing a lot of singing and dancing.

“I wanted it to be interactive so there will be a camera operator on stage. It doesn’t matter where people are sitting they will get a fantastic view of what’s happening.”

The actual content is kept top secret but this does not stop Phil from divulging a few choice snippets. The Shapes are tipped to make to a melodious stage debut and in a never before attempted theatre feat, every spectator (that means the grown-up too) will be involved a logistics-defying art project.

“It’s quite ambitious,” he admits. “We will be trying to get every single person to contribute to a big picture. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. We have been trying to make it work and we’re still rehearsing it at the moment. “This tour is the highlight of my career so far; it’s the pinnacle of Mister Maker.”

Some town landmarks (the Magic Roundabout?) may just be featured in the craft demonstrations. But mum’s the word for now, Phil is sworn to secrecy.

Mister Maker He will appear at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday, November 7 at 1pm and 4pm, and on Sunday 8 at 10am and 1pm.

Tickets are £14.50 for adults and £11 for children. To book call the box office on 01793 524 481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.