HE must be the busiest man in showbiz. Either that or Shane Richie has a secret twin none of us know anything about.

He stepped off stage after being the star of the show in Mayflower Theatre's most successful ever pantomime Robin Hood on Sunday night. The celebrated actor and comic was in fine form during an impressive run, which saw him perform to 65,000 people.

But there was barely time for breath before he was on to the next project.

It was straight into rehearsals for Not Dead Enough, the new stage play from number one best selling author Peter James, which brings him back to Southampton in March.

Then Shane hot-footed it to the BBC TV studios to appear on The One Show where he did a great job, despite looking absolutely exhausted, extolling the virtues of Southampton, the Mayflower and its excellent programme.

Shane, and his soap opera wife Jessie Wallace, are also set to star in Eastenders spin off Redwater this spring so he'll be appearing on TV while staring on stage.

Still at least it means he doesn't have to watch ex wife Coleen Nolan in the Big Brother House.

It was pretty clear from his several jibes during Robin Hood that he's fed up of hearing her discuss their marriage, which ended in 1999. "Let it go love, it was nearly 20 years ago" he jokingly ranted at the audience at one point.

Whenever I've interviewed him he's been a ball of energy, cracking jokes and making everyone smile. It was clear from his portrayal of virtually ever present Robin Hood in panto that he's lost none of the sparkle that led him from Blue Coat to quiz presenter, soap royalty and Royal Variety performer.

He will need all the energy he can muster for an exhausting yet enjoyable year ahead.

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