FROM Essex to Bournemouth, Harry Derbidge is one of the country’s most recognisable reality TV stars with his bleached blond hair-cut, fake tan and unlikely catchphrase of “shut-uuuuuuuup!” But we are about to see the former The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) star in an entirely different light as he guest stars in a brand new stage show Strictly Burlesque which has its premiere at Bournemouth Pavilion, August 15-16, ahead of a UK tour and possible West End run.

In fact Harry, 19, who shocked his fans when he left TOWIE a year ago, is going back to his roots by going back to musical theatre and dance.

The show features not only burlesque art at its finest but also comedy, music, dancing and specialty performances.

Crowned Queen of Burlesque by the Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Fame, the iconic artiste Immodesty Blaize, pictured right, will be headlining the event and has been performing her spellbinding act across Europe, the US and around the world.

The gently-spoken Essex boy enthuses: “I’m really looking forward to doing this show.

“I’ve done performing arts since I was six years old so I’m glad I’m doing something that I’ve worked hard at – it would be silly to throw it all away.

“I am a dancer and have loved it all my life- ballet, tap, modern, jazz.

“Most people don’t know that side of me; they only know me for TOWIE and my catch phrase ‘Shut uuuuuup!’ on TV.

“All my life I’ve believed I’d be a dancer.

“I’m really excited about it.”

TV viewers saw his dancing talents when he did a hilarious dance routine with cousin and TOWIE co-star Amy Childs for Let’s Dance for Sports Relief 2012, in which Amy played Madonna and Harry a very convincing Britney Spears.

“That was great fun,” he laughs, “and it was all for charity.

“I can’t wait to show more of what I can do and this show will be sexy and all fun.”

So why did Harry decide to leave a hugely successful show like TOWIE?

“I felt all the originals were leaving and it was a good time to leave for my career because people are interested in what I am doing next.

“I’m lucky I had other TV work and since I’ve left I’ve done Wedding Planner, Sports Relief, a contract with This Morning, and Daybreak.”

Harry also has his own women’s wear shop in Brentwood, Essex which offers everything from crystal encrusted shoes to his own self-styled jewellery range – and a teeth whitening service.

It is one of no fewer than nine shops opened by TOWIE stars in Brentwood, including Amy Childs’ boutique and beauty salon.

“I say it’s ‘every woman’s dream’.

“It’s called ‘Harry’s World’ and you step in there and it’s all sparkling!

“I do a unisex range of jewellery, too. I have a lot of gay guys come in who have had their hair done like me and want to be like me but mainly it’s women that buy and I’m very proud that the shop has 20,000 followers on Twitter!”

To top that Harry himself has 400,000 followers on Twitter.

But if you feared Harry has disappeared from our screens into his world of retail and bling fear not! He revealed we will be seeing him back on TV soon: “I’ve got a TV show lined up but it’s all hush, hush!” he says, but when I asked if that show could involve something with him and Amy, as has been speculated, he adds: “I may do a show with Amy...I can’t say anything else!”

l Harry stars in Strictly Burlesque at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre August 15-18.