He may have enjoyed chart success with Kid Creole, but percussionist Bongo Eddie is on the move to Wolverhampton.

The musician has been living in Newport, Shropshire, with his friend Craig Phillips, the winner of the first Big Brother reality TV show in 2000.

But the New Yorker, real name Eddie Folk, said today living in Wolverhampton will be cheaper than Shropshire. “I’m looking for a nice little granny flat in Wolverhampton, somewhere I can stay the two weeks out of every four that I’m not on tour,” he revealed.

“I love England – it’s so much better than New York because people are not living on top of each other.

“The Midlands is my favourite part of the country because there’s so much going on but you can get out into the open.

“People in London don’t have the time for you. They don’t want to know you unless you can do something for them.”

He said he was considering some of Wolverhampton’s leafier areas like Tettenhall and would move as soon as he has found the right place.

“Craig’s a great guy, but I need my own place and I don’t want to go spending £600 a month on rent in Shropshire when I’m not there half the time,” he added.

Eddie has toured with soul legends such as James Brown, Al Green, Edwin Starr and Martha Reeves and has also had cameo roles in the films Lambada and Against All Odds.

He is best known for being a percussionist with Kid Creole and the Coconuts whose 1980s hits included Stool Pigeon, Annie and I’m Not Your Daddy.

He has been staying with 36-year-old Craig for more than a year since the pair became friends while working on the charity circuits around the TV DIY expert’s native Liverpool.

Craig put out a charity Christmas single after winning the first Big Brother.

People are invited to the house the pair share at 30 Upper Bar on Saturday where Eddie will be holding a garage sale from 12 noon.

Items up for grabs include furniture, shirts and suits.