RAY Quinn will be taking audiences back to the Eighties when the hit musical The Wedding Singer comes to Blackpool next month.

Ray who went from being runner-up on X Factor to becoming a star in London’s West End in shows including Grease and Dirty Dancing plays Wall Street bad boy Glen in the musical, based on the movie starring Adam Sandler.

“It really does compare with Grease or Dirty Dancing as it’s just such a fun show,” said Ray. “It’s one of those shows that is just great to be part of.”

The Wedding Singer follows wannabe rock star Robbie Hart who is dumped at the altar and takes his frustrations out on every wedding he is booked to sing at.

When his fiancee Julia looks as though she will marry Glen on the rebound, only her grandma realises that that Robbie and Julia are meant to be.

Starring alongside Ray are fellow X Factor finalist and West End star Cassie Compton, Hi-de-Hi’s Ruth Madoc and for the Blackpool dates, Lucie Jones who represented the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. She replaces former Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett.

“My character Glen is a loveable bad guy I guess,” said Ray. “He’s like a greedy child, he just wants things now and he makes a lot of bad decisions. But you still feel a little bit sorry for him, he’s a bit of a lost soul in a way.

“I’ve not played a bad guy like that before and I’ve got to admit I’m enjoying it.”

Ray will be part of the show until the UK tour ends in October.

“Touring can be hard work and you do miss your family,” he said. “But you have to get on with it and enjoy it. Thankfully we’ve got such a great team surrounding us. It’s like having a family on tour and a family at home.”

Set in 1985, the show is full of Eighties references and has some classic songs from the period.

“The audience are so great every night,” said Ray. “Not many people go to work and get applauded on the way out, so if you look at it like that you have got to have a good time.”

With all his stage success Ray has had to put his solo singing career on the back burner for the time being.

“I have got a new album all ready to go,” he said, “but I don’t want to do it in a half-hearted way. Too many people have put too much effort into it for me to just rush it out there.

“It’s just going to take a little bit longer than I’d anticipated.”

Ray did some solo shows last year where he showcased some of the songs on the album.

“I wanted the fans to hear it before I released anything,” he said. “I wanted to get an idea of what people thought and the response was amazing.

“I like to get that first hand response and I owed that to my fans who have been so supportive throughout my career.

“You get such an honest reaction from them,”

Ray says the album demonstrates his sound.

“It’s what I’ve been working towards over the years, I think people will relate to it,” he said.

“But for the moment I’m concentrating on The Wedding Singer. We’re all just having such a great time.”

The Wedding Singer, Blackpool Opera House, Tuesday, July 4 to Saturday, July 8. Details from 01253 629600