Not a piano in sight

Feb 5 2009 By Mark Goode, Surrey Herald

Four Poofs and a Piano singer Stephen De Martin says he only gets recognised when he is with his camp cohorts. The singer on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross sometimes lies when he is asked who he is, and sometimes wears disguises when he goes out alone.

The 41-year-old says: "People come up and say 'good show' or 'how's Jonathan', but I had a man who came to the house the other day to fix my intercom, and he said 'don't I know you, haven't I done a job for you before?'.

"I pretended I didn't know what he meant, because sometimes its such a hassle to explain to everyone."

The quartet are coming to the New Victoria Theatre in Woking for one night only on Sunday, February 15 where they will sing an ensemble of comedic songs and act out sketches.

Stephen says: "This has been our first national tour and we have been doing 50 days in total, which we are coming near the end of now. It is very tiring because we are going all over the country for one night only.

"It's good being on Jonathan Ross because it's really fun, but they have toned it down recently. It was always edited anyway because you can't control what some people say."

The four met about eight years ago and played their first gig in London, before being headhunted by Jonathan Ross's people nine months later.

Stephen first started performing in Australia when he was 16 in school musicals, and later set up and performed as a cabaret duo with his brother. He moved to England in 1996 and performed in pantomimes before meeting the other 'poofs'.

He has met some of his heroines through the Jonathan Ross job during backstage parties after the Friday night show, including Kylie Minogue and Julie Waters.

Stephen says: "We had Grace Jones come on last year and I have always admired her. Some of them are very interesting. In the beginning it was quite nerve-racking talking to them, but they are just people at the end of the day doing their job.

"Because we wear some of the celebrities faces on our t-shirt you get a bit of rivalry. Joan Rivers once got upset because she wasn't on them, and said 'you should just all marry Liza Minnelli'."

He adds he feels very lucky to be in showbusiness and says: "I have always wanted to do it, but it is very tough because there is not enough work for the amount of people who want to do it, and lots of people lose sight and give up.

"It is very tough physically and mentally, and the unemployment is the worst part because you are never guaranteed a job. I appreciated the success we have had."

* Tickets for the performance, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £14.50 and are available from the box office on 0871 297 5454.