Which Hollywood hits will you perform in your new show Some Enchanted Evening?

All my favourites from the golden Hollywood era: Singin’ In The Rain, which was made famous by Gene Kelly in the 1952 musical; Where Or When, originally performed by Judy Garland in Babes In Arms; Luck Be A Lady from Guys And Dolls; The Way You Look Tonight from the film Swing Time; I Fall In Love Too Easily, which was sung by Frank Sinatra in the film Anchors Aweigh; and, of course, Some Enchanted Evening from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.

What draws you to this type of music?

As a boy I used to watch lots of the films that featured these amazing songs. I feel really comfortable singing this type of material. I think that’s because I connect with the meaning behind the lyrics and love the musical arrangements. On this tour my MD Mason Neely has created some great new arrangements but the songs still retain their authenticity.

How long have you been working with the musicians in your band?

We’ve been together for five years now and they’re brilliant. We’ve got drums, a double bass, acoustic guitar, brass, and a grand piano, all coming on tour. I did my first, 20-date tour with this band, and have recently been producing my fourth album, which comes out in time for Mother’s Day next year, with them as well. It’s worked out perfectly because they’re based in Cardiff where I live during the week to film the BBC drama Casualty. 

Your Casualty co-star, Amanda Henderson (who plays Robyn Miller) is on tour with you, too. How did that come about?

Five months after I began my role as Lofty in Casualty, I heard Amanda singing Eva Cassidy’s Over the Rainbow in her dressing room, which is next to mine. I hear a lot of good singers but her voice is very special. I invited her to join me on the tour and she said yes which is great. Although she’s been in the Les Miserables film and the West End show Oliver! she’s not toured in this way before and I’m really excited about singing with her. We’ve been working on Casualty together for two years and she’s become a really close friend.

Is it true that your role in Casualty was written especially for you?

Yes, and I’m really grateful to the executive producer Oliver Kent for giving me this huge break. He wanted a new nurse in the show who had a big heart and cares for his patients with a unique insight and so they created Lofty.

What has it been like playing a lead character in Casualty?

I’m loving it. The routine is very intense – I’m often on set for twelve hour days, then go home to just eat, sleep and read my lines for the following day – but it’s so rewarding.

How do you get on with the cast and crew?

I’ve made some great friends. I’m particularly close to Derek Thompson, who’s played Charlie Fairhead for the last 30 years. He’s one of the kindest people you could wish to meet. He was very supportive during my first week on the show and has been ever since. In fact there are so many lovely people in the cast it’s a real pleasure to go to work.

Why did you want to branch into TV?

Although I was well-established in musical theatre I was keen to open up my career by taking on this role in a TV series. It’s brought more variety into my working life and I’ve gained fantastic experience along the way.

After starring as the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, you took a drama course at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York…

Performing in a musical requires a completely different technique to performing in a play or onscreen and this course helped me prepare for Casualty and also my first leading role in a play: Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime by Oscar Wilde which toured all over the  UK.

Winning the part of Joseph in Any Dream Will Do propelled you into the spotlight. What has fame been like for you?

After starring in big West End shows such as Legally Blonde: The Musical, Wicked and, of course, Joseph it’s given me the opportunity to take my own tours out on the road which was always a personal ambition. 

Has there been a really memorable moment in your career?

I’ve loved them all, especially Joseph, of course. But one of the highlights was playing the role of Chris on tour in Miss Saigon. It happened two years before I got the part of Joseph, and I had been cast as second cover for the lead, so my chances of going on were very slim. My moment finally came months later when the first cover became unwell and I was chosen to take his place. 

And your proudest moment?

There have been so many, but performing Any Dream Will Do in the Concert For Diana in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium is certainly high up there and made me realise how far I’d come. Another highlight for me was bringing my shows to my hometown, Southend on Sea at The Cliffs Pavilion and I’ll never forget it. The support was unbelievable.

What are the downsides of fame? 

I can be quite a shy person and in the beginning I felt a bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights.  Since then, I’ve become more comfortable and realise it goes with the territory.

You obviously have a great relationship with your daughter Betsy - what do you think you’re like as a Dad?

Betsy is the biggest priority in my life. I’m very hands-on, and after filming in Cardiff all week, I drive up to London to spend every weekend with her. She loves animals so I often take her to the London Aquarium and the Rainforest Café.   Once a month I take her back to Southend to see my parents. There’s a place there called Adventure Island, which she loves.

Betsy must have enjoyed watching you in Panto last year…

Yes, she loved it. My mum brought her to see me while I was playing Prince Charming in Cinderella, and during a quiet part of the Panto she suddenly called out, ‘Daddy!’ It was so sweet and everyone was laughing.  After the show, she said to my mum, ‘Nanny, is Daddy going to marry Cinderella? He can’t marry her - he’s my daddy!’ This year I’m playing Aladdin alongside Marti Pellow and Julian Clary at the Hippodrome in Birmingham, so I’m hoping she’ll come to see me in that, too.

You keep yourself looking fit, Lee. How do you maintain your physique?

You haven’t seen me lately! (laughs) I play five-a-side football on Wednesday evenings with the guys from the cast and crew of Casualty, but that’s about all I have time for in terms of exercise, really. The rest of the time I’m filming, rehearsing, and driving up and down the M4!

You’ve been working on your fourth album. When will it be released and what songs have you chosen for it?

It will be out in time for Mother’s Day next year and it will feature a lot of the material from my Some Enchanted Evening tour. The idea came to me after I sang that title song in The West End Men show two years ago.  It’s been eight years since I starred in Joseph and I’ve always been asked why I’ve never recorded songs from that era – now I am. It’s very exciting and the album will have a fresh, modern take on songs from that period.

How do you manage to combine filming Casualty and touring?

I mostly film during the week and the majority of the shows are on weekends and I can’t wait to take the new show out on the road.