He may not have won all the votes in TV's Fame Academy but the talent show didn't do any harm at all to singer James Fox's career. He spoke to JENNY SCOTT. . .

PLAYING Judas might not be considered a great career move for most people, but for James Fox it's just one more step along the path to fame.

For the piano-playing Billy Joel soundalike has come through the tension of TV's Fame Academy and the tack-fest of Eurovision to land a part in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

For James, 28, the move represents a shift away from the easy-listening pop gigs he's become accustomed to, towards a much more melodramatic and physically draining role as the disciple who betrayed the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver.

"It is hard work," admitted James, in his frenetic Cardiff accent. "It's eight shows a week.

"But, to be honest, I've sung six or seven nights since I was 15. I've done gigs all my life so, in terms of the singing, it's not something I'm not used to."

Indeed, holidaymakers may recall James's face from a bar in Blackpool when, a few years ago, he crooned his stylish, sun-on-your-face pop tunes in a piano bar.

He said: "I was happy doing that and I'd be happy to go back to that again if things don't work out."

Such sentiments are not usually voiced by the likes of Girls Aloud and other talent show winners and may surprise those unfamiliar to the Fame Academy format.

Unlike most of the prevailing TV talent shows, the BBC show did actually make an effort to seek out people with genuine musical ability, rather than good looks and a bit of a voice.

"I thought really carefully about which of the shows I wanted to go in for -- if any," admitted James.

"I was never interested in Pop Idol. In the end, I opted for Fame Academy because it seemed more interested in nurturing your talent."

Not that nurturing was high on the agenda for Academy head teacher Richard Park.

The Simon Cowell-wannabe dismissed James for sounding like a "faded '80s star" and criticised him for not having a guitar that was plugged in.

Accordingly, James has none-too-fond memories of Richard.

"That idiot!" he exploded. "He didn't even know guitars are wireless these days."

Despite finishing fifth on the show, James feels the experience certainly gave his career a helping hand. He also emerged with some good friends -- including eventual runner-up Alistair Griffin, with whom he flat-shares in London. Following Fame Academy, James went on to an altogether different type of song contest -- Eurovision.

He said he thought long and hard about singing the UK entry in May.

"I thought, 'Do I really want another tag?' but when I heard the song they wanted me to sing, I thought it was great, so I said I'd do it," he said.

His singable single Hold On To Our Love finished 15th in the notoriously political competition.

"You get about nine countries who used to be bits of Yugoslavia all voting for each other, so you don't really stand a chance," said James.

"But, at least I didn't end up with nul points," he added -- a reference to the previous year's entrants Jemini.

And he has no regrets about taking part.

"It was a whole new world to me. You get these Eurovision fanatics who know everything about every contest and you realise you've become a part of history."

Since May, James has been busy. He toured with Lulu and is planning to release an album next year.

Meanwhile, he's off to Iraq this Christmas to entertain the troops.

"It's a real honour to be asked," he said. "They're letting me take a break from the show to go out there and I'm really looking forward to it."

Catch James as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, from Monday, October 4 to Saturday, October 16.