Michael Crawford - Michael Crawford Enjoying Anonymity In New Zealand

The Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em actor, 70, left his native U.K. five years ago after he was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and the former West End star admits he feels much more comfortable with his new life on the other side of the world.

He tells Australia's Sunday Telegraph, "If you want solitude, you can find it here and people are very respectful of that. You make mates that are in completely different areas of life to yourself from what you've grown up in. My best mate here is a dairy farmer and we talk like every night for about 20 minutes about God knows what, sorting the world out, and we go sailing.

"They know me as Mike... It is nice because you are called different things in different countries. I'm Mike here and I'm sure some terrible things in some countries. It's always Michael in England - it's more formal - but over here and in Oz it's Mike."

Crawford's daughter and her family live in Sydney, Australia and the star often flies over to see her, adding, "I love coming over here, just sneaking off and going around the place. I love seeing my daughter and my grandkids and my son-in-law. It's good stuff."