By Brian Beacom

THERE was a time when actors would go through lengthy audition processes, paraded before producers like prize bulls.

Not so much these days. Simon Webbe reveals he landed his new role in River City after sending off a video.

Mind, you, it helps to have already a national profile, having been part of boy band Blue back in 2000, who sold 15m records. And he has 40,000 social media followers.

“I’m hoping I was offered the role because the producers thought I could do a job,” says Simon, smiling.

“When I first began acting I thought I landed roles because I was a face. I hadn’t gone to drama school. But not I know I’m more than that. I’ve proved that.

“Yes, I was both shocked and grateful when asked to join River City because it’s a major TV production. It’s a great opportunity for me.”

Simon plays Andy Cousins, who is a friend of the Ross family in the series.

“I help out with the wayward teenager Frankie (Louise McMenemy) but this an unusual kind of friendship and some dramatic moments will unfold.

“What I can say the character is nothing like Simon Webbe.

“And I’m hopeful that viewers will quickly see past the pop singer and into the new character.”

The 38 year-old has reinvented himself in the years since Blue split in 2005, and reunited in 2009.

As well as having a solo career and achieving five Top 40 singles, Simon has made the move into musical theatre.

The singer was inspired by former bandmate Duncan James, who took the lead.

“I watched Duncan when he appeared in Chicago and within five minutes I’d forgotten it was Duncan up there on stage, even though he’s my friend.

“He was that good. And it made me think ‘I wonder if I could do that?’ Duncan had made it all possible.”

In 2010, Simon starred in Sister Act The Musical at the London Palladium, alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

“It all set me in good stead for a show like this.”

The rest of his bandmates have also followed the acting route.

“It made sense, I reckon,” says Simon. “Lee was in stage school. Anthony was in Grange Hill and Duncan went to local drama school.

“As for me, I was a sportsman, but I loved stage and I loved drama.”

Did he see the writing on the wall when Blue disbanded? “Yes, and at first I was afraid to go it alone. I guess it was like leaving your friends behind when you leave school.”

Simon struggled to cope with life after major fame. He hit the bottle. He lost confidence. He wondered what to do with his life. Then he was asked to join Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, when he and partner Kristina Rihanoff came third.

The focus helped him turn his life around.

“That’s what life is about,” he says of the pitfalls.

“It’s hard to accept but you have to move on. And looking back I’m glad to have achieved the success we did

“Now, I like to face the challenge of not knowing what will happen. When I was offered River City I knew the job would come to an end after three months, but with a possible extension.

“And that’s what drives me on.”

Simon appeared alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt and Dougray Scott in rom-com The Truth About Love. He has also been in Big Brother, and back with the Blue boys in 2011, when they had a go at Eurovision, only to finish 11th.

But was it a conscious effort to become a TV personality?

“I’d say it was more a conscious effort to choose the right sort of programmes,” he says.

“There were offers coming in all the time but I wanted to keep up a certain standard.

“I wanted to do the biggest shows, and at the same time let people know I was still around.”

The performer, who has a 20 year-old daughter, with ex-girlfriend Nicola, admits it’s hard for the public to work out what he is these days; tv personality, pop star, actor . . .

“Yes, but I quite like that. But I’m not chasing fame. Some of my friends have 300,000 followers on social media and I’ve got 40,000 but that doesn’t bother me. I’m not after the numbers. And I like privacy as well.”

Where does he see his professional future?

“In acting,” he says. “I played the gangster in Sister Act and that was great, and I once played a DJ. I want to hone my skills in the smaller parts, rather than going up for major movie roles.

“The challenge is to get myself ready however for the bigger parts and put pressure on myself.”

Does he feel it’s more difficult for black and Asian actors?

“No, I don’t really feel that. I understand why there are some box ticking exercises going on, but my attitude is get on with it.”

Simon laughs as he claims he didn’t even have slight misgivings in moving up to Scotland, in particular the less than sun-drenched Dunbartonshire.

“Not at all, I’m from Manchester,” he says, grinning.

“Weather doesn’t bother me and because of Blue I’ve had my share of hot countries we’ve played in. I’m happy to be working in the rain. It doesn’t matter at all.”

*River City, Tuesday, 8pm.