Antony Costa, Blue boyband member, is used to living out of a suitcase and touring the country, but not as an American GI.

Now the lead in nostalgic musical Save The Last Dance For Me, coming to Oxford’s New Theatre on Monday, Antony said: “touring the show has been great, it’s been a real laugh. I love the script and the cast and am just delighted to still be working in the business after 16 years, to new audiences every night.”

There have been a few pitfalls along the way mind. When Blue finally disbanded in 2004, Antony declared himself bankrupt, finding it hard to adjust to growing civilian legs.

But since then he’s gone back to his roots, forged a new career in theatreland and is now much in demand, popping up first in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here and then cutting his musical teeth in Blood Brothers.

“You have to endure the bad times to appreciate the good,” he concedes “so always pursue your dreams. When Blue came to an end I had to go out there and work for it.

“I had wanted to play Mickey Johnstone in Blood Brothers since I was a kid, so in my eyes that was a great achievement.

Blue has since regrouped of course and Antony has several gigs lined up with them this summer, but in the meantime he’s touring the country with Save The Last Dance For Me, and loving every minute.

The musical is set in 1962, post war, where two sisters meet an American in the airforce at a dance. It’s an inter-racial piece about love, and their journey is played out through songs: “It demonstrates how far we have come since then,” Antony says, “and keeps you guessing, right to the end. It’s quite nostalgic but people like forgetting their troubles for an evening and being entertained, so I’m really chuffed to be in it, it’s a great show.”

What is it he loves so much about acting then? “When I’m in Blue people just know me as this geezer, but when I’m acting I can really sink my teeth into being someone else, a different character each time, and I love that - stepping into someone else’s shoes.”

“It’s how I started out - acting. I loved it as a kid and trained as an actor back in the day,” he chuckles. I just always wanted to perform.”

“But I also know my strengths and weaknesses. I’m not going to be The Phantom Of The Opera, and I also know my critics are waiting for me to fall, saying that because I was in Blue I can’t do anything else.

“But that’s rubbish and I’m enjoying proving them wrong .It just means you can never become complacent.”

So how are the boys? “Great. We are all doing panto at Christmas, which we love. (Antony is playing Fleshcreep in Jack and The Beanstalk in Gravesend) I suppose we just love being up on stage,” he laughs.,

“And Blue has helped me in many ways - I’m used to touring and living out of a suitcase, I know how to get around, where things are, to be at the sound checks half an hour early.”

Doesn’t sound very rock and roll? “I was the OCD one in Blue. But that’s how I was brought up, that it was rude to be late, so I’m never late, have never been late in all the 16 years I’ve been working. I’d always rather be early.

“Of course I miss my family, but I’ve been doing this for so many years now, it’s second nature and they know the score, even if it is hard to be away.”

And with Oxford next oin the schedule, Antony is delioghted: “Blue is usually one night here and there, but Save The Last Dance is a week long stay in each place so I’ll really get time to look around.

And his American accent has received rave reviews. “I’m pleased with it,” he grins. “but then I’ve always been good at impressions, so accents come quite easily to me.

“But then I love all of it - the story-line, the music, the accent, everything. It’s a fun-filled show.”