Shane Richie has been wearing high heels to do the school run to prepare for his Everybody’s Talking About Jamie role.
The EastEnders actor will take on the part of dress hire shop owner Hugo Battersby, who transforms into drag queen Loco Chanel by night, in the West End musical, and he has been getting to grips with the towering shoes while he takes out the bins, and transports his kids to school.
Shane – who has daughters Romani-Skye, seven, and Lolita, 10, and son Mackenzie, 12, with his wife Christie Goddard, as well as elder children Shane Jr, 30, and Jake, 26, with ex Coleen Nolan – said: “The heels I’ve got for Everyone’s Talking About Jamie are an absolute nightmare.
“I’ve been wearing them on the school run, the bins and everything.”
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The 54-year-old actor – who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap – has also been getting to grips with the character’s clothes, and hopes he can become the “most beautiful drag queen around”.
He is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper as saying: “I’m trying to get used to the clothes, too.
“I just want to be the most beautiful drag queen around.”
Shane recently admitted he was shocked to get a call from his agent telling him the show’s producer Nica Burns had offered him the part.
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The actor explained: “He said, ‘You’ll think I’m drunk or on drugs.’ ”
The soap star asked wife Christie to dig out some of her old gowns so he can get into the part.
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 made a surprise return to EastEnders in late November, and played a huge part in the show’s Christmas episodes as his alter-ego Alfie was left for dead in the Slaters’ living room after being pushed down the stairs, only for him to sneak out of the house with his baby Cherry.
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