Soap stars who attempted pop careers – axed record deal, one-hit wonders and Eurovision

Love them or hate them, soap stars have been trying their hand at successful music careers for decades.

Hoping to cash in on their soap fame, many actors rely on their primetime drama appearances to provide a springboard into the world of pop superstardom.

Over the years, there has been a seemingly endless stream of wannabes, from EastEnders and Coronation Street cast members, dozens of hopefuls have taken on the charts as they try and make their transition from soap star to pop star.

From Martine McCutcheon’s chart-topping success to Samantha Womack’s Eurovision dreams, let’s take a look at the stars that’s have attempted to make their mark in the music industry.

Nick Berry

Actor Nick Berry swapped Albert Square for chart success, when he pursued a career in music.

Nick’s single Every Loser Wins got to Number 1, where it stayed for a whole three weeks and even knocked Madonna off the top spot!

Nick, 59, is best known for playing Walford’s Simon Wicks on the BBC soap, before going onto appear as PC Nick Rowan in Heartbeat.

The famous actor was a household name in the 80s and 90s before disappearing from our screens.

After his initial chart success, Nick later had a hit with the theme song from Heartbeat, a cover of the Buddy Holly song in 1992.

Adam Rickett

Better known as Coronation Street’s Nick Tilsley, actor Adam Rickitt left Manchester’s famous cobbles and stepped into the realm of legendary music videos for his debut hit I Breathe Again, which peaked at Number 5 in the charts.

The 44-year-old Cheshire-born star scored three Top 40 singles from debut album Good Times, but despite signing a six album deal with Polydor Records, those Good Times were over rather quickly when he placed at 41 on the Official Albums Chart.

Adam lived to breathe again however and took part in The Big Reunion in 2014, as part of a boyband supergroup which also featured Dane Bowers and Kavana.

He has since gone on to star in Hollyoaks.

Will Mellor

Will is best known for his role as loveable rogue Jambo Bolton in Hollyoaks, but fans may remember him form numerous other notable roles including Jack Vincent in Casualty, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps as Gaz Wilkinson.

Despite his soap success, Will followed his passion for music and released cover track of Leo Sayer’s When I Need You.

The now 46-year-old managed to reach Number 5 back in 1998, as well as a follow-up single called No Matter What I Do, which reached number 23.

The Manchester-born star also made an appearance in the music video for Boyzone ‘s Comic Relief single When The Going Gets Tough.

Stefan Davis

Australian actor Stefan David is best known for playing the role of cold-hearted and ruthless businessman Paul Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day.

In 1989, Dennis started a side-line music career, and released the single Don’t It Make You Feel Good, which reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart.

He released a second single call This Love Affair, which reached No. 67 in the UK in 1989.

Dennis musical talents aren’t just limited to singing. The married father-of-three is also a talented pipe organist.

Martine McCutcheon

Perhaps the most successful soap star turned singer on our round-up list, EastEnders Tiffany Mitchell soared to the top of the charts when she released her number one single Perfect Moment in 1997.

Her debut album, You Me & Us, was released soon after and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

The album spawned two more top 10 entries, reaching number six with singles, I’ve Got You, and later with Talking in Your Sleep.

She was even nominated for the Brit Award for Best Pop Act in 2000.

Her second album, Wishing, was less successful, charting at number 25 in the UK, and her third album, Musicality, a Broadway -influenced cover album, reached number 55. Due to poor sales, her recording contract was cancelled and her pop career stalled.

Tracey Shaw

Fans may remember murderer Richard Hillman killing off Tracy’s character Maxine Peacock in Coronation Street many years back, but The Derbyshire-born star also decided to carve out a career in music.

She released two singles on the Love This Records record label called Ridin’ High and a cover of Lonnie Gordon ‘s top 10 hit, Happenin’ All Over Again, which peaked at Number 46.

The now 48-year-old decided to call it quits soon after. Luckily for her, she was able to stick around the Rovers Return for another 5 years until her character’s grisly end.

Jennifer Ellison

Former glamour model Jennifer Ellison proved she was a woman of many talents when she packed in her role as Emily Shadwick in the television soap opera Brookside to pursue a music career.

Her first single was pop rock hit Baby I Don’t Care, which reached No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart in 2003.

After gaining the spotlight back when she won Hell’s Kitchen, the now 39-year-old from Liverpool released her second single, Bye Bye Boy – originally recorded by the Japanese singer Nanase Aikawa – which reached No. 13 in the UK chart.

She has also starred as Meg Giry in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.

Ellison and appeared on the reality television show Dance Mums, the UK version of the American show Dance Moms.

Samantha Womack

Samantha made a name for herself in the soap world playing the role of Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders and went on to play Tanya Porter in Sky One comedy-drama Mount Pleasant.

The now 49-year-old mother-of-two teased a music career when she played Morticia in the stage musical The Addams Family, and cemented her place as a singer when she represented the United Kingdom in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.

Her song for the contest, A Message to Your Heart, was released as her first and only single in April 1991 and reached No. 30 in the UK Singles Chart.

The song placed 10th in the contest with a total of 47 points.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk