WE FELL for his hunky good looks in Brookside, were hooked by his hospital shenanigans in Holby City and were impressed by his singing and cooking credentials in reality TV shows Just the Two of Us and Celebrity Masterchef. Now Mark Moraghan is coming to

WE FELL for his hunky good looks in Brookside, were hooked by his hospital shenanigans in Holby City and were impressed by his singing and cooking credentials in reality TV shows Just the Two of Us and Celebrity Masterchef.

Now Mark Moraghan is coming to the Kenneth More Theatre stage in a murder mystery from the pen of screenwriter and television producer Brian Clemens, creator of The Avengers and The Professionals.

Set in April 1939, Strictly Murder tells the story of an English artist, Peter Meredith and his trusting companion Suzy Hinchcliffe, who live together in the lush and beautiful Provence countryside, far from the rumblings of imminent war.

However, their idyllic existence is quickly thrown into turmoil when Suzy discovers she has been betrayed. Peter is not the man he claims to be... What is his real name and what dreadful secret is he concealing?

Liverpudlian Mark, 47, is best known for his roles in Brookside, Dream Team and as obstetrician Owen Davies in Holby City.

But he began his acting career on the stage and is delighted to be back treading the boards: "TV has its rewards, but you can't beat performing in front of a life audience.

"Although the show has been touring, we began our rehearsals in Ilford, so it's great to be coming back to perform."

And the play?

"Brian writes very much tongue-in-cheek, so there's lot of humour even though the subject matter is very serious.

"I play an Oxford University-educated toff, and it's quite a surprise for audiences to hear me with that kind of accent rather than Liverpudlian."

Mark also loves to sing and was inspired by Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr and big band music. He and Radio 5 presenter Nicky Campbell have a swing music album coming out in September.

Mark says: "I've been a singer since I was 15. I was in a band as a teenager but then I became known as an actor and it was only thanks to Just the Two of Us that people became aware that I sang."

We could well be seeing him in a musical before too long.

Clemens' distinguished career has seen him involved with some of the most popular TV series broadcast between the early '60s and '90s including The Avengers, The Persuaders, BAFTA award-winning My Wife Next Door, Perry Mason, Bergerac and, of course, The Professionals.

Slightly less known perhaps is that Brian is also related to the notable American author and humourist Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens).

In addition to his successful television and film career, Brian's repertoire for stage incorporates some 14 plays.

Strictly Murder received its world premiere in 2006 and was received by rave reviews, described by press as, "one of the best murder mysteries" and "grips you by the throat from start to finish".

Commenting on the play and the subsequent national tour, Clemens says: "Forensic science and new technologies could be considered the 'enemy' of the thriller writer as it renders cerebral deduction a virtually redundant tool when solving the modern-day crime and this is precisely why, with 'Strictly Murder', I came up with a plot that could only take place in the 30's.

"I'm truly delighted to be working alongside a company as highly regarded as Bruce James Productions on what will officially be the first national tour of arguably one of my best thrillers to date".

Strictly Murder opens at the Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford, on Thursdayand runs until Saturday.