Holby City heartthrob Lee Mead will take to the stage once more this May - only this time for a very different kind of performance.

In what promises to be a “stripped down” show, audiences will see the West End musical theatre star in a role that really only he could play.

My Story: A Dream That Became A Reality promises to be an evening unlike any other Lee has done before, combing music and conversation that will see him reflect on his life and career to date.

Audiences will have a chance to hear the Joseph singer reflect on the highs and lows that ultimately helped him to find the limelight, when he appears at Queens Theatre Hornchurch on Sunday, May 12.

Lee, who is perhaps best known for his success having won the hit BBC competition Any Dream Will Do in 2007, promises a “personal insight” into the man behind the music, and how this once wannabe schoolteacher shot to fame, performed in front of 70,000 people at Wembley and still managed to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Lee has appeared in many classic musicals since coming to prominence, from Wicked and Legally Blonde to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Some of which he will revisit on the night.

He has also been a regular in Casualty and currently stars as Lofty Chiltern in Holby City, a part written especially for him.

Speaking about his My Story show, he said: “The show was my idea. Just after winning Joseph which really launched my career, I got offered the opportunity to do a book deal telling my life story which I thought I was quite young for at the time.

“Now, after some years, I thought it might be the right time to talk about my life and career to date.

“This show certainly differs from previous ones I’ve done. This is definitely more personal, giving people a bit more of an insight into who I am. We’ll also be singing a few songs while telling a few stories about my life.”

When asked if going back over his life stirred up any hidden memories, Lee said: “Yes, it brought up a lot of things I thought I had forgotten about to be honest.

“I spent a day going back to my old school talking to my teachers and that brought up a lot of funny memories - and then there were some fonder memories people perhaps wouldn’t have expected.

“For instance, I was once with Andrew Lloyd Webber in Majorca and we were at the piano together, the other Joseph finalists were off for lunch and he said, ‘do you know these chords?’, and it was ‘Love Never Dies’ which is the romantic sequel to the long-running musical Phantom of the Opera. It was quite a special moment for me.

“And then there’s singing to 70,000 people at Wembley, getting a Gold Disc off my first album, doing panto, starring at The London Palladium – we’ll be touching on lots of nice things in my life.”

When asked about his journey into showbusiness he said: “I started performing quite late really. I initially wanted to be a schoolteacher.

“I had done amateur shows as a kid. But I didn’t expect to make a career from it.

“I trained at a local art college, but I wasn’t some kid in stage school from age five. I sort of stumbled into it and realised I really enjoyed it and then one thing led to another which is what I talk about in the show.

“I think doing the TV shows are great because with Holby you are watched by so many people per week, but with theatre there is that instant connection and mid song when there’s a beat you can hear a pin drop and you’re all there together - it’s a very special thing.”

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Sunday, May 12, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk