Shane Richie has joined the cast of 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie'.
Shane Richie
The 'EastEnders' actor - who plays Alfie Moon on the soap - will take on the role of dress hire shop owner Hugo Battersby, who transforms into drag queen Loco Chanel by night, for the West End musical, and he was shocked to get the call from his agent telling him the show's producer Nica Burns had offered him the part.
Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper, Shane explained: "He said, 'You'll think I'm drunk or on drugs' "
Shane looks set to throw himself fully into the role and has already asked his wife, Christie Goddard, to dig out some of her old gowns so he can be "the most gorgeous drag queen in the West End".
He told her: "I need you to start looking for old dresses for me. I'm looking to be the most gorgeous drag queen in the West End. I have got the legs for it."
Shane does have some knowledge of drag queens after fronting 'Shane Richie's Ladies Night' in the 80s, which featured two drag queens.
The 54-year-old star reprised his role as Alfie in 'EastEnders' last Friday (30.11.18), and his return made him feel as though he hadn't been away from Albert Square.
He said: "I don't know how long I've been away, but the first day I've got back, there were a couple of people who said, 'Where did you go?' Like I'd just had a long holiday or something!
"It really is like I've not been away. It's the same faces - not necessarily the same cast, but the same crew, wardrobe, make-up and management.
"It's like stepping on to a Ferris wheel.
"It's going round and round, and occasionally some people step on and others step off. And with the Slaters all being together again, stepping into the whole madness of that has been great, but full-on."
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