Singer Darren Day is the latest celebrity proving Brighton and Hove is The Place to Be.

The performer, best known for his starring roles in musicals, has just bought a house in Hove. He plans to use the upmarket property as a weekend base while still keeping his London flat in Hampstead.

The former Essex boy knows Sussex well. He started his career as a redcoat at Butlin's holiday camp in Bognor and appeared in pantomime in Worthing in 1991 in Dick Whittington. Now he plans to return to Sussex whenever he can to switch off and unwind with his girlfriend, Home and Away actress Isla Fisher.

Darren is currently rehearsing for his next role in Carousel, which begins a nine-month tour around the country in March. He will play the lead role of Billy Bigelow in the musical, which is choreographed by Wayne Sleep. He will be on

home territory when the show comes to the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne for two weeks from March 27.

The singer's press agent, Peter Wright, said: "Darren has bought a house in Hove but he is not going to see much of it at the moment because he is so busy. Hopefully when his show comes to Eastbourne he will be able to commute from Hove."

After his early days as a redcoat, Darren's big break came when he won the lead role in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium.

He went on to star in Summer Holiday and the Rocky Horror Show. Recently he has made more headlines for his off stage relationships than his roles on it.

He went out with actress Anna Friel, before splitting up with her for Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw. Darren and Tracy became engaged but he left her after meeting Isla Fisher.Darren joins a host of other actors and celebrities who have moved to Brighton and Hove.

Other famous Hove resident include music business couple Zoe Ball and Norman Cook, boxer Chris Eubank and broadcaster and Argus columnist Derek Jameson.

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