Simply Red star Mick Hucknall has announced he is to quit the music business - to become a Steve McFadden lookalike.
Hucknall surprised reporters at a press conference by revealing that his weight gain in recent months was down to a desire to resemble ‘Eastenders' star McFadden, who plays Albert Square tough man Phil Mitchell in the popular London soap opera.
"I've long been a fan of ‘Eastenders' and particularly of Steve," said Hucknall. "I'm tired of singing love songs to overweight housewives. From now on, I intend to stand up on the stages of working men's clubs pretending to be the man I admire most."
However, Hucknall revealed that one barrier remained in his quest - he still has to shave off his curly red locks.
"Ideally I'd love to come on ‘Eastenders' for one episode as Phil Mitchell's long lost twin and perhaps shave off all my hair in the Queen Vic for charity," he said.
