Soaperstar gary Hopes to JOIN the shampoo AND Jet set

started to feel like it was time to move on.

“I wasn’t as excited about it any more and I was looking at all the new cast members who were coming in and seeing how excited they were, so the producer wasn’t shocked when I said it was time to leave.

“It was the right moment and I wanted to go out on a high.”

He did so in a memorable on-screen exit, leaving Shieldinch in a limousine with Claire Richards, having been hired as the hairdresser for the latest Steps tour.

Nine months on, and as well as writing and performing Dropping The Soap, Gary has taken himself south of the border to explore new opportunities.

“I’ve come down to London as I thought it was time for a fresh start,” he said.

“It’s a change of scenery, plus my agents are here, so I thought I would give it a bash.

“I have to recalibrate my brain. I had three years of this before I joined River City and I had forgotten what it’s like.

“It’s a big dose of reality that hits you in the face, but I’m a hustler and I’m not precious.”

Gary accompanied his fellow ex-river City colleague Holly Jack to Los Angeles when she first tried to break into Hollywood.

“If there’s anything I could do again it would be to save my money to buy a visa, which costs a lot,” he added.

“I was watching from the sidelines with a keen interest.

“It’s a yes town – they’ll invite you in for meetings and it’s always sunny, whereas in Scotland we are realists and we have our feet on the ground.

“Over there a falseness exists – but there’s something to be said for that.

“London or LA? London’s the easier transition, plus I can still enjoy the sun in London, so that’s where I’ll spend my summer rather than up the road.”