Blue's Antony Costa and his co-stars tell us why they can't wait to bring the musical Save the Last Dance for Me to Bromley's Churchill Theatre

The feel-good show is packed with sixties hits - from the title track to Viva Las Vegas and more - and is written by Marks and Gran, the duo behind sitcom hits such as Goodnight Sweetheart and Birds of a Feather.

The writers, along with producer supremo Bill Kenwright, were also behind similarly nostalgic musicals Dreamboats and Petticoats and its sequel Dreamboats and Miniskirts.

Save the Last Dance For Me originally opened at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre in January 2012 and now it is set to return with an all-new cast from August 1 to 6.

Set in 1963, it follows sisters Jennifer and Marie who go in their first holiday without their parents.

Younger sister Marie meets and falls in love with Curtis, a black American airman and the show explores their journey as well as racial tensions and Anglo-American relations in the sixties.

The star name in the cast is former boyband member Antony Costa, who plays airman Milton alongside seasoned West End pro Wayne Robinson as Curtis.

Costa, who had three number one albums with Blue, told us he loves being on stage in the musical.

He said: “This is my first love, for sure.

“I love being on stage with these guys week in, week out, in front of different audiences. The beauty is every audience is different.

“They are not there to see me, and I love that. The pressure is not on myself, I’m part of a great company that is so good at what they do that I’m learning every day myself.

“We get on so well that it really does show on stage.”

While the tour of the musical is Costa’s top priority for now, there is still life in the boyband yet.

He said: “There are a few gigs. I’m not going to say we’re going to get back together next week and do another album but there are a few gigs over the summer.

“But my life at the moment is Save The Last Dance For Me and then we’ll see what happens.”

Joining Costa and Robinson in the cast is Anna Campkin, who plays Curtis’ ex Della. After working on both Dreamboats and Petticoats and Dreamboats and Miniskirts, she is relishing a third Marks and Gran show.

She said: “It’s great working with them. They’re great writers and it is so easy – you read it and think ‘that’s exactly how it should be’.

“It all makes sense. I always loved Birds of a Feather when I was little so to be working alongside them is amazing.

She added: “There are loads of little one liners. Jennifer in particular, the older sister, has some great scenes and great lines.

“That’s what’s great about it. You have got quite a meaningful storyline but that keeps lifting it so you never get to the point where it’s all doom and gloom. There are little quips.”

Save the Last Dance For Me is at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, from August 1 to 6. Go to churchilltheatre.co.uk