Meet Fleeshman

And soap stars supporting rock legends on tour at the legend's request? Well, that's only happened once. To Richard Fleeshman. The former Coronation Street star is opening for Elton John on his UK arena and stadium tour this summer, after Elton heard Richard's debut album, Neon. "I couldn't believe how mature the record sounded and how developed and accomplished Richard's songwriting is at such a young age," declared Elton. Richard may be able to play in front of thousands, but how will he fare with the Living Questions... Living ... For The City I would love to live in the South of France. I'm a proper water baby. Just the thought of being able to open the front door and be on the beach, and in the water, and on a boat all day, jet-skiing, surfing... that would be perfect. And the wine's good. And the food's good. It's all good. I'm currently in West London but originally from Manchester. There's a lot to be said for Manchester being this mini-London, it's very cosmopolitan and up-and-coming, but London is the hub of this industry and most industries. For me, a young man with no ties, there's no excuse not to be here. And it is a great city to live in. Living... On A Prayer I'm more agnostic. I don't mind religion, but it's not really for me. I don't want to get too involved talking about it because it's such a strange thing. You can criticise anything else –you could say 'I love the Arctic Monkeys' and I could say 'They're absolutely rubbish' and it's fine. I love the Arctic Monkeys by the way, but you see what I mean! But if someone says 'I'm a Christian' and someone says 'that's absolutely rubbish', it's like it's the end of the world. Living... For The Weekend The perfect night out would be... free. Totally free. It would be totally organised. And it would probably be totally inebriated. Those would be the three things it needs to be... and also memorable. I'm very much enjoying the red wine at the moment, but I wouldn't drink it on a night out. It's the only thing that gives me a hangover. I'd do the mixer thing. Or a beer. Obviously. That's like the law. Living... In A Box Best present I've ever given... you know what? I dropped my friend's camera. She'd bought this beautiful 12 megapixel digital camera and I went on a night out and, don't ask me how or for what reason, but her camera – in fact her whole handbag – went into the air and into the canal. The only thing she was bothered about though was the camera, so the next day I went out and bought her a new one. And it wasn't the cheapo one. No, she wouldn't have bought the cheapo one would she?! I was thinking 79 quid? That'll be fine. Oh, it's not that one. Oh, and it's not the 179 quid one. Yeah, it'll be that one, the 250 quid one. It killed me but I had to do it. She didn't expect it but I felt I had to do it, to say sorry. And bless her, she didn't fall out with me about it. The best I've received... I've had a few special ones but my mum will kill me if I don't mention one of hers! What would she want me to say... hmmm... You know what? I'd always wanted a pet bird, ever since I was tiny, and I was never allowed one as we lived in a house full of cats. They were our cats, by the way, they weren't just random cats... So one Christmas I woke up in the middle of the night and saw this table, and I thought, bloody hell, she's bought me a bedside table. I went over and saw it had a cage on it, and a little baby budgie inside. That was the most amazing surprise. That's when I got Arnie the budgie. Who lived for eight years. He was a healty, happy budgie. The Living... Years You know what? I'm in a really happy time right now. I cannot complain. And that's so nice to say. It's genuinely all good. It's exciting, there are lots of things on the verge of happening and I can't believe I'm about to go on tour with Elton John. That stamp of approval is almost worth its weight in gold. To be on that tour, playing that sort of venue, playing before an icon comes out on stage... that's amazing. That he has the faith in me to do it, is really great. The Living... Daylights Probably Live and Let Die, for the theme. The film... My first Bond, when I really discovered Bond, was in the Pearce Brosnan days and I thought he was a really good Bond. I know people say Sean Connery but I'm going to stick to what I knew. I've watched the others, and Sean Connery was brilliant, but I'm going to stick to what I know. So Brosnan and the film would be... well, because the game came out on the N64, Goldeneye. That was my childhood right there: that film, that game. It's still great. The four-player game was amazing. Living... TV I love Top Gear and Jonathan Ross. That's about it... Nah, I love a good drama, I love Family Guy. There's not a lot I watch, there are a lot of things I don't like and I'm not going to name them... because I may have to be in them one day. I love comedies, like Family Guy, that you can dip in and out of. And brilliant dramas but they're getting less and less common. And chat shows, so Jonathan Ross. I used to like Parky but now he's gone... But Top Gear is probably my favourite show. It's wicked. Girls love Top Gear, and that's amazing. I've never found a car show my girlfriend likes but she loves Top Gear. And Dave is brilliant... Mock The Week. I love those panel shows. And they repeat Whose Line Is It Anyway! So that, with a Chinese, it's always Chinese. Apart from the times it's Thai or Indian or fish and chips... Generally anything from the takeaway that's going to make me have to go to the gym the next day. I'm a takeaway fiend. I love food when it's really bad! I love good food as well though, good healthy food but, unfortunately, my local kebab shop doesn't do good, healthy food. Richard's new single, Back Here, taken from the album Neon, is released on 14 July 2008.