EASTENDERS actor and West End leading man John Partridge said he is “excited” to be breaking his Black Country theatre virginity later this month.

Best known for playing Christian Clarke in the popular BBC soap, John is set to star alongside Corrie’s Hayley Tamaddon and X Factor winner Sam Bailey in Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre’s upcoming production of Chicago.

No stranger to the stage, John’s many musical theatre credits include Rum Tum Tugger in Cats in the West End, on tour and the official film of the show, John in Miss Saigon on the first UK national tour and most recently Zach in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium.

John was also a judge on BBC1’s Over the Rainbow, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search to find a Dorothy for the musical The Wizard of Oz.

He spoke to the News’ Dan Sharp this week about what the Black Country audience can expect from Chicago, which is hitting the stage between June 20 and 25.

DS: Hi John, thank you for taking the time to speak to me. How are you and how has the tour been going so far?

JP: It's no problem at all Dan, I’m very well thank you.

The tour has been going fantastically well – but I would say that! All joking aside, it really is a fantastic show and I have been having a wonderful time.

It is the 20th anniversary of the revival which makes it an exciting time to be involved with Chicago.

We have had some incredible audiences on the tour so far, and as an actor there is nothing better than standing on stage and getting a great reception.

It is a very contemporary show. It deals with celebrities and celebrity culture which is something that wasn’t as prominent 20 years ago as it is now.

DS: Is this your first time performing in the Black Country?

JP: It will be. I have never performed in Wolverhampton before. I’ve done Birmingham and the hippodrome a few times, but I’ve heard that the Grand is a lovely theatre.

I’m very excited to perform there in front of what I expect will be a wonderful audience.

DS: What has it been like working with Hayley (Tamaddon) and Sam (Bailey)?

Hayley is one of the best stage performers you can come across. She really knows her way around a role. She is a delight to work with – one of the nicest killers you will meet!

This is Sam’s first ever stage tour, but you wouldn’t know, as she is a natural on the stage and has such an incredible voice. Being a prison warden was great preparation for her role!

We have one of the strongest – and best looking – performing casts and dancers you will see, and I must mention the band because they are sensational.

DS: What attracted you to the show?

JP: I play Billy Flynn, the king of spin, and it is the perfect role for me; a dream of a role.

But I was asked to play Billy in about 2010 and at that time I turned it down because I didn’t feel that it was the right time for me.

It is such an iconic musical role and I didn’t feel that I had the maturity to give it justice as whoever plays it has very big shoes to fill.

But in about June or July last year we were told that they were casting for the new tour, and immediately I wanted the role. I knew that now was the right time and the right place for me at this stage of my career.

DS: What does the future hold for yourself after you finish on the tour?

JP: I’m one of those people who like to do it all. TV, theatre, presenting, reality… I am lucky that I’m able to and have the opportunities to do all of these things.

I’m filming EastEnders at the same time as doing the tour, which will be shown later in the summer, and I have a new series coming out on CBBC on June 13 called ‘Taking The Next Step’.

We are looking for young performers for the children’s reality-drama ‘The Next Step’.

I am also looking to do a new record, based on the Irish tunes my mother used to sing to me when I was young, but for something like that you need to stay in one place, so at the moment it is just about finding time to do it.

But that’s why I love being an actor, because I don’t like to do things for a long time. I like change, trying new experiences and doing different things.

DS: Thank you for your time John, it has been a pleasure to speak to you.

JP: No problem Dan, it's been great, and I hope everyone enjoys the show.