Shane Takes TV Soap Break to Rock You? Or Maybe Not!

Rumours emanating from the Whatsonstage.com Discussion Forum suggest that Shane Richie could be returning to the stage later this year. The star of musicals such as Grease and his self-penned Boogie Nights has achieved more widespread fame this year as barman Alfie on EastEnders. But according to gossipmongers, he's missing strutting his stuff on stage and, from November, will take a six-month break from the TV soap to take over the role of Galileo in Queen hit We Will Rock You. While it's true that: a) Richie has attended performances of the show, including on the night of Whatsonstage.com's birthday bash Outing (See News, 18 Jun 2003); and b) role originator Tony Vincent completes his contract on 15 November 2003, a show spokesperson told Whatsonstage.com that the notion of Richie replacing Vincent "is complete nonsense". Still, future casting has not yet been confirmed. Queen date for your diary, by the way: today is Freddie Mercury's birthday. The band's late lead singer was born in Zanzibar on 5 September 1946. He died, of Aids-related pneumonia, at his home in London on 24 November 1991.

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