MICHAEL Portillo has come a long way —often by railway — from his days as a prime minister in waiting.

Now he is just as well known for his television presenting as for his time in Parliament.

A cabinet minister under John Major, his political career went off the rails when he unexpectedly lost his seat in the 1997 election and although he subsequently returned to Parliament in a by-election, he ultimately failed to secure the Conservative leadership.

However, few politicians have reinvented themselves as successfully as Portillo has after leaving the House of Commons. He now enjoys fame thanks to television and radio programmes such as Great Continental Railway Journeys, This Week and The Moral Maze.

These contrasting sides of his working life are reflected in the title of his talk at the Wyvern Theatre tonight — Life: A Game of Two Halves. The show starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £21. To book go to swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.