BILL ACTOR TO SING FOR CHARITY (20/11/05)

From Yahoo Entertainment news:

The Bill's Andrew Lancel is taking part in a fund-raising concert at the Albert Hall next month.

The actor, better known as crime-buster DI Neil Manson, will be singing at the annual event, Christmas Carols with the Stars, on December 8.

The star-studded gig is in aid of Leukaemia Research, and tickets are available from the venue's box office.

It won't be the first time Andrew has belted out a cracking tune for an enthusiastic crowd this year.

Stars in Their Eyes fans may remember his performance as A-ha's Morten Harket in August.

It may have gone down well with the masses, but the actor admits he has no plans to take the charts by storm.

"I've always sung, but I've got a really good day job," he explains. "I don't want to be a pop star. I've got no delusions of doing that."

The Lancashire-born actor burst into the showbiz spotlight in 1993 TV movie Wide-Eyed and Legless. He went on to appear in a string of acclaimed dramas, including Cardiac Arrest, Hillsborough, Liverpool 1, City Central, and Queer As Folk.

After playing two different roles in The Bill, he was signed up as Neil Manson two years ago and has proved to be one of the serial's most popular characters.