Radio musings this week have had me wondering the following two crucial points:

** When going for a dump, is the first thing you do after you’ve ’splashed out’ not to get up, turn around and look at what you’ve dropped?

** When you wipe - do you stay seated and put the old hand under or do you stand and go behind?

** Also, do you wipe from front to back or back to front?

Me? My answers are: Yes, Defiantely; Stand up; and from front to back, definately.

JEFF Wayne began his 2007 Tour programme notes by thanking those who had supported last year’s successful tour by returning for another showing.

From the evidence of Friday night, many will be clamouring for a 2008 tour, such is the success of his War of the Worlds production. More than 10,000 fans packed Birmingham’s NEC Arena for the live stage version of Wayne’s original 1979 hit album.

Indeed, that very album is listed as the 30th best-selling Album throughout the UK up to 20 years after its release, there’s little doubt that after a brace of nationwide tours, the majestically-adapted stage version won’t be far off achieving similar acclaim some 20 years from now.

Naturally the mind boggles at the theoretical concept that eventually took to stages throughout the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Hugely established as an original album decades previously, there will have been many who thought Wayne was risking his deserved and prestigious reputation with such an ambitious re-creation, but with sell-out arenas night after night, few can doubt that this legendary tale has successfully entered this new era of breathtaking theatre and technology.

The production stays steadfastly true, almost to a very note, to the original recording, there’s little doubt that this takes credit for so much of the tour’s success. And yet, with the addition of so much as would be warranted by turning LP and CD into stage show, what is already so well-established and well-loved by millions took on a devilishly brilliant twist, without question a twist for the better.

Stars of the first recording so many years ago, artists Justin Hayward and Chris Thompson are among those joining a 40-peice orchestra and live band on stage. Through remarkable Motion Capture and Holography, even the late Richard Burton re-joins the cast and crew, his initial narration adding a chilling and unmistakable touch to the whole performance.

Even those unfamiliar with both Wayne’s earlier release and indeed the subsequent stage act would be hard-pressed not to instantly recognise the iconic opening bars of “The Eve of the War” the evening’s first number, enough to bring shivers down the spine. The same can be said with the subsequent offerings from the First Act, from “Forever Autumn” featuring Hayward as the sung thought’s of Burton’s character the journalist, to “Thunder Child”, Thompson returning to once again belt out the lyrics as humanity finally succumbs to the Martian invasion.

With the second act brings another breath of fresh air,  John Payne and Sinead Quinn take up the roles of the Parson and his wife last year played out by Russell Watson and Tara Blaise. Arguably the performance of the evening comes from ironically perhaps the least recognised of the productions newer faces in Alexis James, the 28 year-old gives new life to the role of the Artilleryman, a part originally held by David Essex. Large shoes to fill, indeed, but James’ performance added to the fantastic mix of old and new,  both the contrasts and similarities between respective versions of War of the Worlds has been struck superbly. James also works as a partner in an aviation company providing charter jets to the entertainment industry, the sky is the limit for the proverbial uncovered gem of the tour.

Throughout the show the integration between the live actors and musicians and Burton’s holographic narration is effortlessly precise, the two-hour production almost faultless and yet produced and performed with full gusto, enthusiasm and passion so fitting to HG Wells’ original novel of so very many years ago, it leaves little to wonder why Wayne and his phenomenal cast and crew have captured the imaginations of a whole new generation. Fans of the original studio album attended not least out of nostalgia, but brought with them their children who were perhaps being introduced to live stage and theatre for the first time. So rare will a live performance register as such a hit with those now preoccupied with technologies at the extreme opposite of the spectrum.

And with a new age of fans on-board for this new-age production, there will be more call in the coming years for the team to continue progressing, enhancing and perfecting the show that has truly proved to be timeless.