ITV weatherman Des Coleman talks Eastenders, forecasts, musicals and much more ahead of big night at Black Country theatre

The 60-year-old can be seen on ITV Central News as the weather presenter, but also tours the country performing in musicals and acting in plays, as well as a memorable turn in a Rat Pack group playing Sammy Davis Junior.

Over the years, Des said he has had plenty of highs and lows, from Oscar parties with Bruce Willis to surviving several bouts of cancer, from time spent in a maximum security prison to hours on life support, and is set to take to the stage of Brierley Hill Civic on April 16 for a special night.

"Des Coleman Sings Swing & The Musicals" will see Des, accompanied by a 10-piece Big Band, perform his favourite songs from his West End career, as well as talk about his life and story in a show he said had been inspired by wanting to do something for his mum.

He said: "It was really down to my mum as she's getting on a bit and she's seen me do a lot of stuff and I've been writing and trying to put together some stuff, but she's never seen me write, create, put something together and then appear on the show.

"At the show, I'll be cracking a few jokes and the band will play up and I'll be telling a few stories and saying how I was hearing songs while I was in the womb, but there will be a picture that I'll put up which pays homage to my mum.

"It's about saying how I wouldn't be here without this woman here, and up on the screen will appear a picture of my mum in the 1960s, holding me when I was a year old, which will be an 'aw' moment and I wanted my mum to see it, so that's the main reason I'm doing this show."

Des said the night would feature him telling stories about his career, including a few that nobody would have heard before, plus a wide of range of songs, from Frank Sinatra to swing songs and musical theatre, as well as another singer who he said sounded just like Doris Day.

He said it was nice to be able to take a look back at a career which saw him begin work on the West End in the early 1990s, then take on the role of Lenny Wallace on Eastenders, a role he played for three years.

After Eastenders, his career has seen a litany of West End and musical roles, as well as more acting roles, before a chance for a career change came in the mid-2000s when he said he was looking to find a role that meant he could stay closer to home.

He said: "I love entertaining and it's one of those things that has always been massive in my life and through acting for 10 years, Eastenders and the West End, I would be away from home for a long time on tour.

"After a while, you look back and realise you haven't been spending that much time at home as you should, and it was one of those decisions where I wanted to try and find something that keeps me closer to home.

"I was living in Derby at the time and doing a radio show about musical theatre and while I was there, someone asked me whether I'd ever thought of doing the weather as there was a slot coming up, and I believe that under this umbrella of entertainment, you've got to take opportunities when they come up.

"I'll never forget when I did my first practice when they took me to the weather screen and I was moving around and they told me that I was coming out of my light, as weather presenters usually stand in one place, but I asked them how many lights they had and suggested they turn on a few more, so that allowed me to move around a lot more.

"That's the way I approach it, telling a story and moving around as people want a bit of light and shade and having a bit of fun, as the weather can be a bit dreary, and it's a great gig at ITV as it's a great team and they are really supportive."

Des said that he gets just as many people recognising him on the street for presenting the weather as for Eastenders and the One Show, and said it was still nice to be able to meet people and hear their stories.

For the stage show, he said he was looking to put together a wide range of songs, with a few challenging numbers along the way.

He said: "I do a lot of show-stopping numbers and one of those things with musical theatre is that you're born with a tenor voice, a baritone or something that's basic and I'm lucky that I've got a good top note on me and can hit a nice, solid high note which has kept me employed on the best end.

"In terms of tough songs, the Impossible Dream is a good one as it's a song which really builds, plus I'm learning Talk to the Animals as well, then I'm looking at a Barry Manilow number, so it's a real mixed bag."

Des Coleman said he's been lucky to have the experiences he's had and said that while the show is very autobiographical, it also doesn't mean he's done yet.

He said: "I don't know if there's a motto to my life, but I know that I'm lucky as I wake up and I just want to have a great time and when I'm speaking to people, I just want them to smile.

"I enjoy that buzz and get a good feeling about it and I tend to surround myself with people who tend to laugh and don't take things too seriously, and that's what I'm all about."

"Des Coleman Sings Swing & The Musicals" takes place at Brierley Hill Civic on April 16. For tickets and more information, go to the Civic website.