GREG: Tell me a bit about The Extra Factor.
KEVIN: The script has really excited me because it's never been done before. It's very much tongue-in-cheek. It's about a reality show but it's also a musical play with a lot of very different characters. There are songs everyone will recognise. It's
definitely a show to come and see before a night out to get you in the mood.
ANTONY: Kev summed it up in a
nutshell. It's a show where the audience can vote for their favourite person who they want to win, so there's six different possible endings to the show.
KEVIN: And it's not a fix!
ANTONY: The characters will shine through. There's a lot of depth to them that people will relate to.
KEVIN: And each actor is playing against type. I'm playing Ray, who is a real 'club man' – a bit of a rocker who has had his problems in the past and he has a dark secret, as indeed most of the characters have secrets.
ANTONY: Cal, my character, is a bit of a mummy's boy – he looks up to his mum. He wants to achieve success for himself and his mum because they come from a two-up and two-down house in Liverpool.

GREG: So you're playing a Scouser again, like you did in Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers' on stage. You're not renowned as an actor, but you got great reviews for that
ANTONY: Yeah. Apparently when I speak Scouse I sound younger! The acting is actually what I'm trained in. I did acting before I became a member of Blue.
GREG: Have you been up to Lancaster or Morecambe before?
ANTONY: No I haven't. I'll be checking out the city centre.
GREG: You performed at Frontierland in Morecambe though a few years ago,
didn't you Kevin?
KEVIN: Yeah, it must have been 15 or 20 years ago. It was a good gig to do on the way to the Isle of Man. Is Frontierland still there?
GREG: No it's been pulled down.
KEVIN: That's a shame.

GREG: You two seem to get on really well. Is this the first time you've worked together?
KEVIN: The first and last time (laughs).
ANTONY: Yeah, the geezer's a
nightmare! No, I love the geezer. I've learned a lot from Kev – what to do on stage, how to act with other people.

GREG: I suppose you must have bonded over how people keep asking you, Kevin, when are you going back to Coronation Street and Antony, when are you going back to Blue?
KEVIN: Actually, he's going back to
Coronation Street and I'm going back to Blue!
ANTONY: (laughs) Yeah, I could be Curly Watts' long-lost son! As for the band, I'd never rule out a return, but it won't be this year.
KEVIN: Antony's doing too well for
himself. He's going to work for Sky TV you know? Putting up the dishes...

GREG: He gives you a lot of stick, Antony. It reminds me of that episode of 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks' you were on.
ANTONY: Oh yeah, the presenter (Simon Amstell) really hammered me! But it made the show. People like yourself remember it. He gave me a lot of stick, but I was never going to walk out.

GREG: You've been busy as well Kevin since you left 'Corrie' in 2003, performing in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' on stage, amongst other projects. What else have you been up to?
KEVIN: I wrote a series of documentaries about life in Spain for Sky TV. I ended up presenting them. (Check out YouTube for Kevin's documentary about his night
out partying in Ibiza 'Kevin Kennedy's Ibiza Capers' – highly recommended viewing!)
GREG: You're also both big football fans, aren't you?
KEVIN: Yeah, that's all we've been talking about!
ANTONY: I'm a Spurs fan. Pavyluchenko was supposed to be signing today. (NOTE - He eventually signed on Monday).
KEVIN: Who's he then?
ANTONY: The one who scored goals against England.
KEVIN: I'm a Manchester City fan, as has been well documented.

GREG: What do you think of City's
controversial chairman, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been exiled from his home of Thailand?
KEVIN: I'm just a bit sick of people saying 'it's typical City'. I think we've got the right manager in Mark Hughes and we played well against West Ham. I just wish they would sort things out at board level. (NOTE – this interview was conducted before Mr Shinawatra sold Manchester City to the Abu Dhabi Group).

GREG: So finally, what would you say to local people to entice them to come and see 'The Extra Factor'?
ANTONY: If you're a fan of Coronation Street, or a fan of Blue, or a fan of The X Factor, this is for you.
KEVIN: It isn't a family show, it does have adult themes.
ANTONY: Yeah, so if you're a family with over-15 year olds than come and see it!
KEVIN: There's a very strong story
running through the middle of this show. It's well worth seeing.

For tickets to see The Extra Factor – starring Kevin Kennedy, Antony Costa, former Eternal singer Kelle Bryan and Scooch's Russ Spencer, call 64695. Shows are on September 8, 9 and 10 at 8pm.