Rock of Ages star Justin Lee Collins tells Matthew Jenkin why he was destined to air guitar in the West End's hottest new musical and Orpington's Andrew Spillet explains how he juggles five roles as the show's understudy.

WITH his unruly mane of hair, beard and moustache, Justin Lee Collins was born to play an ageing hippy with a love of heavy metal in stonking new West End show Rock of Ages.

News Shopper: Review of Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End ****

Starring alongside X Factor winner Shayne Ward, the larger than life Bristolian’s destiny was foretold before he had even heard of the 80s rock musical.

“I was on a flight to New York at the beginning of this year and the stewardess asked me if I was an actor,” explains JLC.

“I said no and she said I looked like I should be in Rock of Ages.

“Within a month I got a phone call from my office in London and I was asked to read for the part.

“It’s full of music which I grew up on. It’s my era. I mean, look at me for God’s sake. It’s perfect for me.”

The show, which includes anthems from Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Journey and Foreigner, tells the story of two young dreamers living on LA’s notorious Sunset Strip.

Drew (Oliver Tompsett) works in a skuzzy metal bar but wants to be a rock star, while new girl in town Sherrie (Amy Pemberton) hopes to be an actress. Inevitably, they fall for each other.

News Shopper: Rock of Ages stars Justin Lee Collins and Andrew Spillet chat about West End's hottest new show

But the course of true love and rock ‘n’ roll rarely runs smooth and Drew finds impossible competition from metal superstar Stacee Jaxx, played by former X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who is in his element thrusting his crotch to Bon Jovi’s Wanted Dead or Alive and hamming it up in his skimpy undies.

Despite having practiced his jazz hands briefly before for a Sky documentary where he starred in Chicago, the role of bar owner Dennis Dupree is the former Friday Night Project host’s first professional stage job.

Collins is in high spirits when I caught up with him at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

“Dennis is an older, wiser Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski type character,” he says.

But unlike his character, a newly svelte Collins is far from rock ‘n’ roll.

It’s an irony which is not lost on the star.

"I don’t really drink anymore. I eat super healthy, I get lots of sleep, I exercise like a crazy man and I’ve lost loads of weight.

“Before this show, I was drinking and I was goodness knows how many stones heavier,” he says.

“But now I am actually in a rock show, every night, I lead the most un-rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.”

News Shopper: Review of Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End ****

Things could have turned out very differently, however, if a chance encounter with Jon Bon Jovi in the late 90s had panned out the way he wanted.

Collins, who started his career as a stand-up, had just finished a gig at The Comedy Store in London in the late 90s when he came across a crowd waiting for the lead singer outside Planet Hollywood.

Clutching a can of lager, he joined the group of fans.

He said: “When he came out of the restaurant, everybody went crazy and I remember calling out in a booming voice, ‘Jon!’

“He stopped dead in his tracks, turned to me, looked me in the eye and I said, I swear to God, ‘Take me with you!’

“Then someone bundled him into the back of a limo and he didn’t take me with him."

Chuckling he says, "That’s the closest I’ve ever got to Jon Bon Jovi. Jon, take me with you!"

Knowing his own rock heroes are Guns 'n Roses, I suggest he try the same line with the band's original guitarist Slash.

Giddy with excitement he replies, "Woah man, but the great thing about Slash is I think he would. That’s the difference. I think Slash would take me on a journey."

News Shopper: Review of Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End ****

There's little time for partying for Orpington actor Andrew Spillet either, who understudies for five roles in the show, including Dupree.

It’s a daunting task but with the help of a wig and long hours backstage desperately trying to learn the parts, he is able to slip into any of the characters.

“My favourite character has to be Lonny. He’s awesome,” the 38-year-old admits.

“He’s really hard to play though because there are so many different facets to his character.”

Played in the show by the brilliant Simon Lipkin, Lonny is not only the narrator but also Dupree’s buddy and bar sidekick.

With a twinkle in his eye, JLC admits there may be something more than just friendship between the pair who duet with REO Speedwagon’s I Can’t Fight This Feeling.

Collins said: “There’s a little vein of camp there with Lonny and I think you don’t really get that with Dennis until their big number together.

“In that moment, Dennis is able to reveal his true feelings and you get this big bromantic moment.

“The audience really go for it and most evenings we’ll get cries of ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss!’

“That may or may not happen, who knows?”

Let's make it happen. As JLC would say, good times.

For tickets, call 020 7379 5399 or visit shaftesburytheatre.com