Peter James’ popular DSI Grace novels might be set in the sunny south-coast location of Brighton, but they feature the dark and unsavory subjects of crime and murder. The books have not only been adapted into a number of ITV dramas, but also a series of hit stage plays. The seventh such adaptation, Picture You Dead, tours the UK this year and features Strictly winner, TV presenter & musical theatre star Ore Oduba, who here talks to What’s On about the brand-new show and his glittering career...

Ore Oduba is a familiar face on the nation’s screens, having regularly featured as a TV presenter since he began on CBBC’s Newsround in 2008. In recent years, he’s embarked on a flourishing career in musical theatre, touring the UK with Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Pretty Woman: The Musical and - most recently - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in which he took the lead role of Caractacus Potts.

Ore’s next venture swaps sequins for suspects, as he appears on stage in his first non-musical endeavour: an adaptation of Peter James’ thriller Picture You Dead. Playing the antagonistic Stuart Piper, he’s appearing alongside George Rainsford as DSI Roy Grace, the Brightonian detective who features in many of James’ novels.

“It’s really, really exciting,’ says Ore. “Not only the fact that you get to do something new, and be at the beginning of a new journey, and meet amazing creatively talented people, but this is a brand-new stage production. No-one’s ever done it before; it’s the first time it’s ever been created. That’s such a thrill, because it gives you free rein to put your stamp on it, and hopefully make it a really epic trip to the theatre.”

The adaptation, just like the novel, takes a foray into the fine-art world - as you might have guessed from the play’s punny title.

“Picture You Dead is the seventh stage adaptation of the very successful Peter James novels,” says Ore.

“They’re all thrillers, and in this story, a very ordinary couple happens to find a very expensive piece of artwork at a car boot sale. From that point, their whole world turns upside down, and we find out about all of the characters that are affected by this serendipity. There’s an intensity to it, but there’s also a lot of humour - and at the end of the day it’s a thriller, so there might be some trouble on stage, too!

“My character is Stuart Piper, who is a little bit of a villain of the piece. It’s actually my ‘villain era’ that we’re all going into! I find it quite unnervingly natural to just slip into that mode. It’s a really lovely part, and there’s a lot of eccentricity that I’m going to be able to bring to it.”

It’s not Ore’s first venture into the world of Peter James, and he has a theory as to why the books, and their adaptations, have proved such a hit.

“I came to watch another one of the series - my friend Laura Whitmore was in one [entitled Not Dead Enough] a few years ago. I think the audiences for the Peter James novels love where it’s set, and they love the way Peter creates these characters - always in a relatable world, set down in the Sussex and Brighton area. It feels like the kind of capers that could happen within your community.”

Ore might have found fame on the TV screen, but his first love was performing in the theatre.

“It was the place that I always felt most at home when I was school-age. I was desperate to be in a school production, well before I was of age. I remember getting my first school role when I was 11, and just falling in love with being under that spotlight - being able to thrive. I think from a kid’s perspective, if that’s where you thrive, it’s where you find your voice and where you find your calling. Actually, it’s only hit me in the last couple of years that this is always where I was meant to be - or certainly where I was always going to find my happy place. It feels like a very natural space to be.”

And while he’s taken to musical theatre like a duck to water, he hopes this side-step into crime drama will broaden his theatrical horizons.

“I’ve been wanting to work with the wonderful producer of this show for many, many years. We’ve been friends for a long time, just trying to find the right project and fit it in within the schedule. We tried really, really hard to make this work, so I’m thrilled. I’m so at home in the theatre; it really is my happy place. I’ve been wanting to continue to develop the craft, and doing a play like this - it’s hopefully going to be hugely popular and successful, but also the other talent on stage is mind-blowing - I feel very inspired.”

Ore explains that each role he plays adds something new to his repertoire, with every experience carrying him forward to the next project - a fact which makes it hard for him to decide which character he’s most enjoyed playing.

“The most important thread is that they’ve all allowed me to keep progressing. I hope that my career is long and always moving on an upward curve - I guess that’s what you hope for. I certainly feel more confident now, going into an unknown - this is going to be my first play. I feel more confident, doing it off the back of all the work I’ve already done. The last job I did was Pretty Woman: The Musical. I had an amazing time - a really big role in an amazing, huge, commercial vehicle that was all around the country.

“I’m grateful for all of the roles - they’ve all been wonderful. I think you’re only ever going to choose to do a job if you feel like you can offer something to it, and that’s where the excitement comes. They’ve all been brilliant, whether that’s Caractacus Potts in Chitty, or Happy Man in Pretty Woman, or Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show - all of them have been very, very special to me. I look back with the fondest of memories.”

On the other hand, jumping into something new brings its own challenges - but as Ore says, there’s always an element of the unexpected when it comes to the theatre. And that’s what it’s all about!

“The unknown - that’s what’s exciting about live theatre; every day is brand new. We’re doing the same show, but there are always new challenges. I love music, so it will be, how do I get my music fix, outside of being in a musical? I’ll probably keep putting the Wicked soundtrack on in my dressing room every day, and that will give me the hit that I need. I’m really looking forward to it!”

Picture You Dead shows at Birmingham’s The Alexandra from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 June.

By Jessica Clixby