Eastenders star Shaun Williamson returns with more Barrioke

Former Eastenders and Extras star Shaun Williamson brings his Barrioke tour to The Engine Rooms and he says fans should expect a fun-packed evening of karaoke and humour, in which he will duet on every song.

The actor, who played Barry Evans in the BBC1 soap, previously sold out The Joiners in Southampton in February 2022.

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He told The Daily Echo: "There is a myth that people are more spirited in the north, but the date at The Joiners was one of the liveliest I have seen. I think I was the only sober person in the room!

Shaun added: "I duet with everyone who sings. We have a recommended song sheet with all the usual bangers, like Sweet Caroline, but any tune is possible, although, if it is from after 1990, I may have to study the words!"

The 2023 Barrioke tour made headlines after rock-blues singer Rag’n’Bone, real name Rory, joined Shaun on stage in Tunbridge Wells in January.

Shaun explained: "A mutual sound engineer friend had previously told me that Rory is an Eastenders fan, so I sent him one of my CDs and, incredibly, he took it on The Graham Norton show. Then, on the way to the gig, I had a call asking if he could join us on stage that evening. We duetted, including on his hit Human, which was amazing."

Stevie Wonder would be his dream singing partner, he says. 

No stranger to Southampton, Shaun has starred at The Mayflower, including Guys and Dolls in 2009 and One Man, Two Guvnors in 2014. He also travelled from the city to work at Pontins on the Isle of Wight before television fame.

It is nearly 20 years since Shaun appeared in Eastenders, a time when 20 million viewers tuned in to watch his onscreen wife Janine pushes him of a Highlands cliff.

The sitcom Extras gave Shaun a new set of fans after he left Eastenders in 2004.

Tickets for his latest event at joiners.vticket.co.uk