Phil Daniels, may not be the skinny teenager he was in Quadrophenia, Franc Roddam’s 1979 big-screen take on The Who's rock opera; but just for a second, with that brilliantly debunking and bolshie manner, he could almost be Jimmy Cooper again when I ask him a simple question: “What’s your part in Songs In The Key of London?

“I don’t know; I’ve not really rehearsed it,” he admits in his gravelly, trademark Cockney accent. “I’ll be introducing people... might do a bit of Parklife...”

The press release says Phil will be hosting a stellar cast on the Barbican stage next Tuesday, March 9, “to celebrate, commiserate and eulogize”, through song, the wonders of living in the capital.

“I suppose I got involved, because I know a guy called Mike Smith,” recalls Phil, about the musician who works closely in various musical projects with the former band members of Blur. “He talked to me about Songs In The Key Of London and asked me if I would be interested in MCing. I said ‘yes’ but other than that I’m not really sure what I’m doing!”

Despite Phil’s exuberantly, contemptuous tone, I don’t think it will be a problem for this seasoned actor as the musical guests on the bill include some of the giants of British pop whose iconic work seems to spring from London’s very streets – Suggs and Chas Smash of Madness, Jools Holland, Chris Difford (co-curator of this show), and his old Squeeze bandmate Glen Tilbrook – and some new artists too – Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets), Robyn Hitchcock, James Hunter, Derek Hussey, Becky Jacobs and Mike Lindsay (of Tunng), Natty, Rico Rodriguez, Peggy Sue, Kathryn Williams and more.

“There isn’t a song about where I grew up,” muses Phil, about his working class background. “London is quite inspiring in a general way, but I can’t think of any songs about Kings Cross,” adds the 51-year-old actor.

Phil, who also played Kevin Wicks in EastEnders for two years, didn’t have a typical RADA training. His father was a caretaker in Jessel House, a block of flats in Kings Cross, and his mother was an accounts clerk. “There was talk of me being an electrician,” he recalls. “But I think, if I hadn’t done acting, I would have been a social worker.”

At the age of 11, entirely by accident, Phil discovered acting. “I never wanted to be an actor,” he says. “I just fell into it during the summer holidays. I was with a gang of lads, just hanging around. Someone found out that this woman Anna Scher, was running a drama club and I really fancied one of the girls who was going. We were sat at the back, watching, but somehow Anna managed to get us involved.”

Phil’s autobiography is out this week, entitled Class Actor. He adds cheekily: “I thought it would be nice to write a book about my life growing up in London.”

Songs In The Key Of London, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Box Office: 0845 120 7550.