Kent profile


being hard enough” put paid to those ambitions. Three years as a postman was followed by a


complete change of direction. “I was sitting at home one day, doing nothing in particular, when I thought: ‘I’ll join the Navy,’ “ he said. However, colour blindness restricted his


opportunities, and he quit after nine months. “It was the biggest failure of my life. Shaun is convinced his parents – his dad a postman and his mum a cleaner - never quite forgave him. “Even when I got into EastEnders, it never matched the pride they felt at the passing-out parade at HMS Raleigh.” His first attempt at professional entertainment came


as a Pontin’s Bluecoat in North Wales, at a camp where, coincidentally, the pub was named the Queen Victoria. His summer season looking after families and playing a leading role in the evening shows was important training, he said. “By the time I left, I knew I could have a future in the business.” After other temporary jobs as a summer camp


counsellor in America and selling wines and spirits at Safeway’s, and another season looking after holiday guests – this time as a Club 18-30 rep in Lanzarote - Shaun eventually, at the age of 27, was accepted at the prestigious Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Shaun’s big break came within two months of leaving drama school. A bit part as a paramedic in EastEnders


minds – to them I was still Barry – and probably always would be. “I certainly


couldn’t be upset by it. Moving from a soap to such a brilliant sitcom had to be a good move. Apart from anything else, it brought me a new fan base, mostly students I think.” Last year Shaun took on a completely different


Above: The line-up for Extras, with Ashley Jensen, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant


challenge – a 30-week stint in a stage adaptation of Porridge, specially written by the originators of the TV sitcom, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Shaun starred as Norman Stanley Fletcher, the role made famous and unforgettable by Ronnie Barker. “It was a real privilege to be asked to play such


an iconic character and follow in the footsteps of the great Ronnie Barker,” he said. Back on TV, Shaun recently finished recording the


third series of the popular children’s programme Scoop. Shaun plays Digby Digworth, an ambitious but inept journalist for a fictional local newspaper, where his quest for a scoop inevitably ends in mayhem and disaster. In each of these he is accompanied by Hacker T Dog, an established BBC children’s TV star (whose puppet-like qualities are


led to an invitation six months later to become Barry Evans. This was initially for a few episodes, which eventually became about 700. “I was really lucky to get the part,” he said.


“A fantastic role in the country’s most-watched programme – unbelievable.” When such an identifiable and memorable character


like Barry Evans is killed off after – in this case - nine years, there was the distinct possibility of the actor disappearing from our screens. But Shaun not only survived, he thrived, with a variety of TV roles and other entertainment opportunities. He became the butt of some outrageous gags in


Ricky Gervais’s Extras – especially as Stephen Merchant, as an incompetent TV agent, persisted in calling him Barry throughout. “It was funny, but in a way Ricky was only writing what was in many people’s


largely ignored by his army of young fans). Yet despite all his TV and stage success, Shaun


admits that his first love is really singing. That wasn’t a surprise to me, as I first saw Shaun


belting out some soul numbers at the Casino Rooms, in Rochester, about 10 years ago. “It’s my great passion,” he said. “I took on six or


seven cabaret appearances last summer and I’d love to do more, but it’s not easy to fit them in.” He also performs when possible with John Oliver’s


Live, a soul band from Wales. “It’s a fantastic band and I sing with them whenever time permits and whenever the money’s enough to pay for 12 of us rather than 11,” he joked. He got the chance to combine acting with singing


when he appeared in touring versions of Saturday Night Fever and Oliver.


Above, Left to right: Shaun in Digby & Hacker, Shaun with his wife Melanie, The death of Barry Evans – pushed off a cliff by his conniving wife Janine


Mid Kent Living 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36