HE is known for wearing the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, duetting with Kylie and more recently dressing in drag in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

But Jason Donovan told Weekend he wants people to see a different side to him in The King's Speech at Manchester Opera House.

The 46-year-old is pursuing more serious acting roles and sees his part in the West End play that inspired the Oscar-winning film as a start to that.

"I think this is a move in the right direction," said the former Neighbours star.

"I’m certainly not putting any of my musical stuff to one side but I find that exhausting and quite stressful.

"I’m really enjoying the process of working on The King's Speech and I’m hoping in the future there will be more of this.

"I’d love to do more television and straight drama if I could.

"I like House of Cards and Breaking Bad and that sort of stuff. They’re interesting shows with great characters and great stories.

"But I’m a big fan of great films. Martin Scorsese always makes brilliant films.

"I thought The Wolf of Wall Street was just pure genius. He always comes up with something pretty edgy and sexy and cool and out there and intelligent.

"I haven’t done a lot of TV work for a while. That’s something I need to talk to my agent about really.

"I hope I get to do some more of that in the future because I think you need to create a new story – you can’t keep relying on being in theatre all the time. You need to get that big public access "

Jason is playing Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue in The King's Speech opposite Raymond Coulthard as King George VI.

Plagued by a dreadful stammer, the play tells the true story of how Jason's unorthodox speech therapist helped the king find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

"People are surprised by the performance," added Jason.

"I’m not that surprised because I always knew it was in me. I just needed the right piece of material to let it come out. This is the perfect script and character for me.

"The thing about Lionel Logue is he’s an outsider in this country. He deals with king in the same way he would deal with anyone else who wasn’t in that privileged position.

"I think that’s why the king respected him and that’s why they got the job done."

The King's Speech started life as a West End play but has become one of the most successful British films of all time.

It won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Seven Baftas, including Best Film.

Jason, who has appeared on I'm A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing, said: "It’s such a well crafted piece and I’m really enjoying it.

"We know from the film that it is tried and tested. It was originally a play although it was written like a film and I think it translates really well on stage.

"It’s a little bit more political. It deals with the issues more in depth whereas the film was more about their friendship.

"It’s a very human story. It doesn’t matter who we are, we all face the same fears. The characters are polar opposites but they attract each other because of that essence.

"I think there is something in all of us in the king and there is something in all of us in the therapist."

It must also help that Jason, who was born in Melbourne, is playing an Australian character.

He added: "It’s a great Australian story as much as it is an English story and obviously I don’t have to worry about the accent too much!

"The last job I did was Annie Get Your Gun with a southern American accent. That really did require going to another place but you’ve got to face those sorts of challenges as a performer.

"I think Lionel Logue is the probably the most Australian character I’ve played in a long time. Even in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert I didn’t really need to be a broad Australian.

"I was in War of the Worlds recently and that was a rock opera sort of character and you certainly wouldn’t have known I was Australian in that because it was more of a singing sort of part.

"I’ve done War of the Worlds three times now and it’s a big show to be part of. It was a very exciting production and I loved the fact I could turn around and a hologram of Liam Neeson would be there."

Jason also paid tribute to Neighbours for launching his career. The Australian soap is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The Heart FM presenter said: "It was a great time for me and I was lucky to be a part of a show that I still talk about to this day. It’s bizarre but I can understand why.

"Many people don’t get to be part of something like that in a lifetime.

"I wish Neighbours' 30th anniversary all the best. It’s been a launching pad for many people’s careers, my own being one of them."

So is Jason still in touch with any of the cast?

"Occasionally by email but not really," he added.

"Everybody has moved on. I always say hello when I see people but it’s a bit like an old school mate. We’ve all moved in different directions."

- The King's Speech is at Manchester Opera House from Monday to Saturday. For tickets visit atgtickets.com/manchester or call 0844 871 3018

DAVID MORGAN