Actor Joe McFadden has revealed appearing on Strictly Come Dancing has reignited his passion for live performance.
So much so the 42-year-old is now considering quitting his day job on Holby City to return to treading the boards.
He told The Sun: “Strictly has given me the hunger to do live entertainment again, perhaps a little play or a musical.
“It’s sort of given me a hunger for going out into the world and doing other stuff.
“So perhaps my time might be coming to an end in the near future is all I’m saying.”
Joe has become a firm favourite with Holby fans playing Dr Raffaello “Raf” Di Lucca for the last four years so many would be sad to see him go.
But Joe, who has been impressing the Strictly judges with his routines with professional partner Katya Jones, said it would be “a shame” not to return to his theatrical roots now he’s “got the dancing feet again.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Holby has lost one of its stars thanks to Strictly. Back in 2008, Tom Chambers handed in his notice when he won the dance competition.
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He went on to appear in West End shows, although he did later reprise his role as Sam Strachan in Holby’s sister show Casualty.
Many other Strictly stars including Jay McGuiness, Louise Redknapp and Danny Mac have gone on to land parts in musicals after getting the dancing bug on the show.
Joe could soon be following in their footsteps, or he could “keep dancing” as Tess Daly says by going on a Strictly live tour.
For now, he remains focused on making it to this year’s final and hopes to wow the crowd this weekend when he performs in Blackpool.
And the actor admitted it’s not just the buzz of live performing that he loves about Strictly, he’s also grown fond of the fake tan!
He said: “I’m doing the fake tans every week – it’s all part of the experience. In fact, I went double dark the other day.”
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He couldn’t do that on Holby unless his character could explain he’s been on a long sunshine holiday!