Hi Duncan you alright?
Yes cheers mate are you?
Not bad thanks, although I need a wee.
Do you need to go?
No i’m ok, thanks. So this time last year you came out as being bi and since then, your career has blossomed – do you see a link?
I wouldn’t like to think that is the reason, but I guess it may have something to do with me being more comfortable with myself and it feels that I have been lucky with the work choices that i’ve made. I did “Plus One” a really fun comedy thing and I think people saw me in a new light because I was taking the mickey out of myself and it was critically acclaimed. People thought I had a sense of humour and I was put up for “Legally Blonde” which I got which was a big, key thing and now i’ve got Don’t Stop Believing, Sunday nights on Five. It’s like a domino effect, which is brilliant and whatever the reason for it, it’s been great.
I didn’t see Legally Blonde but i’ve heard great things. Will you do more theatre?
Legally Blonde was the first time i’ve opened a west end show. The first few previews were so scary and frightening because everyone was waiting to slag it off before it even begun. People actually thought it was a great show though, and it’s selling out until December 2011. Once I got into it I really enjoyed it and had a great time with it. Sheridan Smith is one of the best british comic actresses that we have and she’s going to emulate something like Julie Walters career I think. She’s incredible and we’re great friends now.
Right now it’s difficult to do more – i’ve been offered a part in a new show that’s about to open and I’d love to do it, but with Blue coming back, it’s really hard. Contracts for Blue are being drawn up now and until I know what’s happening, I can’t commit to another West End show which is frustrating, but me and the boys agreed Blue will take priority because Blue is celebrating ten years in the business next year, so to do a tour and new album is a fantastic opportunity and not one we can miss. I think we’re blessed to be able to do it.
When other bands have come back, like Take That, they’ve seemed more powerful and more open. They’ve also spoken about some of the more outrageous antics they got up to the first time. Any things you want to share with us about Blue?
Mr Lee Ryan says he’s diverged enough information about Blue’s past! I don’t want to comment on anything else! The difference this time is we’ve grown within ourselves, all had kids, all done individual things and with age you ground yourself and you become mature and this time we’re in a better place and we’re not silly kids any more. To a point, yes, we’d like to come back and be more mature I would hope, but i’m sure the tabloids will have lots of fun and i’m sure they’ll be lots more craziness coming out of Lee’s mouth but that’s what we love about Lee and that’s who he is and I love him for who he is. We learn to live with it.
The stuff Lee puts on Twitter is just brilliant. You never know what he’s going to say, and I don’t think he does either, it just comes out. I’m really into Twitter thanks to you guys, I just enjoy it, it’s a great way of speaking to fans and having a good old read of what other people are getting up to. You can always cuss somebody which entertains yourself too. I have it on my phone so I use it in the car, it’s very addictive. I have tweeted on the loo!
The first time you were around you didn’t have direct access to the public – I guess Twitter makes things different for you now?
Yeah it is a great way to get out there and be direct with what’s going on and tell people what’s happening. It’s a great thing, and we didn’t have it first time around with Blue. Within half an hour of the photographers going from the Don’t Stop Believing Press Call there were photographs of the shoot out there, and it’s crazy that it’s that instant. A story can break and within 30 minutes it’s out there for the world to see. Scary, but fascinating.
Don’t Stop Believing is Five’s biggest show ever – excited?
I’ve worked with the Producer before at Sky – half way through Grease the School Musical he left and went to Five, and so he came up with the idea for Don’t Stop Believing inspired by Glee, contacted my agent and I came in for a meeting and that was that. It’s a fun, family, feelgood entertainment show. It’s Five’s biggest show, they’re going full out with the campaign and Emma Bunton’s hosting it, it’s a great opportunity for me to get back out there on telly.
Emma’s not a presenter by profession and this will be huge for her. Can she cope?
Yes! Emma is absolutely brilliant. She’s proven herself by being on Dancing on Ice, she’s great on Heart radio and she is a lovely girl, gorgeous to look at, and she’s going to do a fantastic job you know, she is the perfect host for it.
Have the Producers given you Judges direction?
No, they wanted me to be involved because i’ve been in a group, i’ve been on Dancing on Ice so I know what it’s like to be a contestant on a reality show, and i’ve done theatre as well. I know what it feels like, and what these people are going to go through. I know what i’m looking for and yeah, they wanted my experience and what I can bring to the table as a judge and i’m really excited to see what these groups are going to be doing each week. The smallest group has five people and the largest has about a hundred, so I can’t wait to see how they’re going to cope with singing live and dancing. Most of all, I want them to have fun because then the viewers will have fun.
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