He was longed over by millions of girls and envied by millions more boys but now ex-Blue boy Antony Costa would rather give it all up to be taken a little more seriously.

He tells us about re-inventing himself as a solo artist and actor - and, more importantly, proving his critics wrong.

AS a youngster, Antony Costa had roles in Grange Hill and The Bill and played the lead in the hit BBC sitcom Chalk, but it was in 2001 at the age of 20 that he shot to fame as a member of boy band Blue, whose hits included All Rise and One Love.

After selling over 12 million records worldwide with Blue, he has gone it alone and appeared as himself in the jungle in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

More recently he has finished starring in Boogie Nights with '70s pop star Alvin Stardust in the 10th anniversary tour of Boogie Nights - The '70s Musical.

And now he is touring as Mickey Johnston in the infamous tragic musical Blood Brothers in his West End debut, a part which has won him rave reviews.

Antony's first love was acting and his recent role has awoken his passion sparked by an immediate "yes" from producer Bill Kenwright at the audition.

"I walked in and started speaking Scouse immediately," he said "But Bill stopped me half way through to ask where I was from.

"I thought I'd done something wrong. But he actually thought I was a Scouser.

"He asked, 'Where are you family from, Liverpool?' "I was so happy that he believed my accent was genuine.

"It was amazing to receive such a compliment from him. This was probably the highlight of my career."

"What's been especially good has been proving people wrong by showing them what I can do. I am not just that geezer from Blue."

Now the pop sensation of the early 2000s is preparing to take on a solo tour An Evening With Antony Costa, an event he watched his idol Elvis Presley do and always longed to copy.

"I want to show people what I have been doing since Blue because I'm not in the press every day, as I am a very private person.

"People assume I am not doing anything. I will be doing some Blue songs with some of my own and some from the shows I have been doing all thrown in.

"When Elvis used to do such appearances I always thought how special it was.

"It was never just about him which these nights so often are with a personality sitting there thinking they are great but this is an evening where it's more intimate and people can request songs and ask questions.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I hope people, don't ask anything too personal though I get embarrassed quite easily."

Although he wants to leave the old Antony behind, he still fondly remembers his days with Blue and admits at times he misses it.

He said: "I remember the first time I knew that we had made it was when I heard All Rise on my favourite TV show Only Fools And Horses.

"I rang all the boys and told them. That was when I thought Oh my God, we are famous.' "I miss the other band members. I was like working with your mates and what can be better than that?

"But it was time to call it a day and there are good things about being on your own.

"You can be your own boss and concentrate on other things as well like my acting.

"The next step for me is to land a serious TV acting role. That's my ambition."

  • The 18-date tour of An Evening With Antony Costa comes to Darwen Library Theatre on Wednesday, February 27. Tickets are on sale now from the box office on 01254 706006.