Shane Richie unrecognisable in DRAG as he dons five-inch heels and red wig to play cross-dressing shopkeeper in West End musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie

The EastEnders legend, 54, spoke about the role – in which he looks a world away from Alfie Moon – to This Morning's Ruth and Eamonn.

The actor told how he only has 19 minutes to transform into a drag superstar in the musical.

Shane plays the role of Hugo and he runs a store for drag queen attire called Victor's Secret – but he later changes to his Loco Chanelle character.

He said: "I literally walk off stage, there's three people waiting in the dressing room, wonderful Jess does my make up and I strip off down to my pants and my fishnets.

"And I walk into my five inch heels."


He also told how he is the first actor playing the character to wear heels that high.

And he also admitted that he wanted to be attractive to his mates while in drag – but added that he hasn't succeeded.

Shane said: "And I sat down with the designer and I said I wanna dress where my mates would come and see the show and go ‘You know, after a couple of beers I would.’

“That was always in the back of my head, sadly none of them have come up on the offer."

The musical – which stars Layton Williams at the titular character – is inspired by the 2011 BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.

Last week, Shane opened up about being homeless as a teenager, revealing that he was forced to sleep on the streets for 10 days.

Speaking to The Mirror, Shane explained that in September 1980 he went to Plymouth looking for work, and when a DJ job he'd secured was pushed back he could no longer afford to stay in the B&B he'd booked.

He ended up staying with a local couple in a home that had no electricity or hot water, but after two nights the police raided the squat and kicked everybody out.

The actor continued: "I found myself walking the streets of Plymouth alone and virtually penniless.

"I’d grabbed a sleeping bag from the squat and headed to the railway station, as it always seemed busy and bright."


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