NEXT week sees the classic musical, Godspell, come to the Theatre Royal Bath for the biblical extravaganza's 30th year on the stage. Among the cast are two of Britain's brightest young stars, Jonathan Wilkes and Clare Buckfield.

AS A man who lives with Robbie Williams, modesty is not high on the agenda for Jonathan Wilkes, childhood chum of the pop megastar and now a fledging singer and actor in his own right.

He is every bit as cheeky as you'd expect his far-more-famous flatmate to be, though when Robbie's name crops up, he balks about deferring the conversation away from his own career.

"That's all boring news now. It's time to crack on with my career," said the 23-year-old in an uncharacteristic break from his usual chirpy self.

However, he admits that a recent duet with bosom buddy Robbie certainly did his career no harm.

"Since then people have been opening their eyes and actually thinking 'oh, he can actually sing'," he said.

"It has been nice, and this is the follow-up really; come and watch me and see for yourself."

In Godspell, Wilkes plays on alternate nights Jesus and Judas. He shares the role with ex-Neighbours pin-up Daniel MacPherson in the classic musical adaptation of the Bible, even though Wilkes admits neither the subject, nor previous renditions of the show, (hilariously made into a film in the 1970s starring David Essex) were his cup of tea.

He said: "I'm not religious at all. I believe that there is something up there, that there is someone looking on me, but what it is I don't know. You don't have to be a religious person to do the show, it's not a religious show.

"I watched the film. which was pretty awful to be honest really. I watched an amateur production but obviously it's not the same; this is a multi-million pound production.

"It's a big rock concert really. It's all great fun, it is a very energetic show to do and quite challenging for all of us."

Clare Buckfield comes across as less career-minded than Wilkes. To her, having fun and working on productions with a community feel is enough to motivate her.

Discussing her famed role on TV's 2.4 Children she said: "It was like a family to me because we only had six members in the cast. I loved that part of my life.

"Now I am doing Godspell, I make sure that I say a little prayer before we go on stage to try and help the cast and so that we get through the performance, that we are all safe and that we enjoy it."

Buckfield, 25, also packs a lot more religious zeal than her co-star Wilkes.

She said: "I am Catholic. It isn't a religious show but it really has two messages. The first is love thy neighbour and the second is to do unto others only what you would do to yourself. It makes you stop and think and brings a bit more value to your everyday life.

"My boyfriend's brother her boyfriend is TV's Declan Donnelly, one half of Ant and Dec is a priest and I can't wait for him to see it. He actually teaches in youth missions."

Lacking the experience that more seasoned actors bring to the Theatre Royal, Buckfield says that she is nevertheless undaunted by her first ever performance at the venue.

"I can't wait to play the Theatre Royal. I have heard a great deal about it. It is quite daunting but I am very honoured and proud.

"We are all young and the energy that we have on stage comes across in a very positive way. The audience will not be disappointed."