POLITICIAN turned television presenter, writer and broadcaster Michael Portillo, returns to Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts in the New Year.

It took Michael little more than ten years to get a seat in the House of Commons and then rise in power and esteem to a point where he was widely tipped to become leader of his party and a possible future Prime Minister.

A track record like that suggests to many a privileged friend of the rich and famous.

But it was not to be, and his political career came to a humiliating end, losing his seat in May 1997.

Since leaving the house a decade ago, Michael has since reinvented and endeared himself to many with his obvious respect for the solid workmanship found in the great railways of the world, the effect of the railways on the history of countries and the daily lives of their people.

An historian at heart, Portillo used a Victorian railway guide to take millions of viewers on a historical voyage of discovery throughout the UK, Ireland ,the USA and Europe.

Now he is heading back on the road in 2019 to talk about his life and to answer your questions.

A tour spokesman said Michael’s show “promised to be a lively evening of talk and questions.

“Life: A Game of Two Halves is that story, told with the wit of a Parliamentary stand up.”

Michael will open the floor to questions from the audience and will be available to sign books after the show which starts at 7pm on Wednesday, January 16.

Tickets: £17.50. Concessions available. To book, call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk