RAY Quinn is loving his Summer Holiday at the moment, on the King’s Theatre stage.

Yet, starring in the lead role made famous by Cliff Richard in the 1963 film has been a little bitter-sweet.

“My Nan was a huge Cliff Richard fan,” says the former X Factor star.

“She told me before she died I should do work that had something to do with Gene Kelly or Cliff Richard.

“So when I got the chance to play Cliff’s role in Summer Holiday I jumped at it.”

The 30 year-old singer adds; “My Nan, would have loved to see me up there on stage.

“But at the same time I know she’s watching over me. I have no doubt about that.”

Ray plays Don, a London Transport worker who sets off on a road trip with his friends across Europe.

Their unlikely adventures start when they meet a girl group with car trouble.

The storyline, Ray reveals, still features the sexual identity confusion, where Don thinks Barbara is a boy - and only realises she’s not when she lets down her hair.

“Yes, and it’s very strange,” he says, grinning.

The music in the stage show however is better than that of the film.

“We’ve incorporated lots of Cliff hits. We’ve got the likes of Bachelor Boy, the Young Ones and Living Doll. And the show is all the better for it. They really fit in with the storyline, and the love story.”

Liverpool-born Ray loves the music.

“It incorporates the rock n’roll era, which is amazing. And I love the innocence of the lyrics.

“The songs are about holding hands with a girl. It’s about the anticipation of romance.

“The lads are asking the girls to go on a bus and have an adventure. But it’s all about gradually getting to know someone.”

Ray is a natural romantic.

“I’m not into the internet way of things. For me, romance is about being nervous and working up the nerve to go and talk to someone.

“I met my missus on a night out and had to work up the courage to go and talk to her. You can’t beat that feeling when someone shows an interest.”

Is there a concern the lyrics in the show may not be relevant today? There aren’t too many rap artists singing about living dolls?

“No, but these songs are about falling in love,” he says, smiling. “That’s not a bad thing.”

Ray Quinn has been in showbiz since he was eight years old when he appeared in C4 soap Brookside. He went on to train in musical theatre and he’s an established solo singer.

But he does admit he had concerns about taking on the role of Don.

“To be honest, I didn’t know whether I’d be able to do the (London) accent.

“When I began rehearsals I started off a little Phil Mitchell.”

He adds, laughing; “It was a bit too Cockney geezer. But that was adjusted to become a bit posher, a bit softer. I’m a very competitive individual and I just kept going and eventually it came through.”

He didn’t listen to Cliff recordings or watch the film.

“I didn’t want to do a cut and paste version of Cliff. I didn’t want to play Cliff. I wanted to play Don, and that gives me a bit of artistic licence to play around with this character.

“I like to think there’s a bit of me in there as well.”

* Summer Holiday, The King’s Theatre, until Saturday.