Cancer won't stop me says Grand Theatre star Ben Richards

But when the star of The Bill, Holby City and Footballers Wives was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year, he had to put his plans on hold.

Thankfully, the 41-year-old was given the all-clear in January – prompting him to jump on a plane to the States to fulfil his ambition.

And while he didn't come away with any shows in the pipeline the actor, who says he has got a new outlook on life following his illness, says the experience alone was worth the trip.

Now he is back in the UK he is starring in the Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5 The Musical, which is being staged this week at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

He first appeared in the show last year but took a three-month break for his LA trip and Wolverhampton is his first stop since rejoining the cast as office boss Franklyn Hart.

"It is a great character to play as he is so horrible," he said. "It is fantastic to be back in the show. The Grand is a beautiful theatre and the front row is very close to the stage, which is great for comedy."

He loves appearing on both stage and screen and admits that he has been very lucky to constantly find work as an actor, even when he was undergoing his medical treatment last year.

"I love both television and stage, they are both so different, and the challenges from both are equally as diverse," he said. "I am fortunate enough to do both. I have been very lucky with work, I think maybe because I can do varied things such as dancing, singing and acting, it makes you more employable all year round."

Now an ambassador for Bowel Cancer UK, he is keen to talk about his experience with the illness in the hope that it may encourage others to go to see a doctor if they suffer any of the symptoms, including a change in bowel habits and blood in stools - something he admits he put off himself.

Since his diagnosis he now eats healthily, avoiding red meat, wheat and beer.

And although he misses a drink, he doesn't want to run the risk of the cancer returning. His role as an ambassador will see him speaking out about the importance of younger people looking out for symptoms of the disease. It affects 40,000 people in the UK each year and is the third most common cancer in the UK.

Although 72 per cent of cases occur in those aged over 65, the numbers of young people developing the disease are on the rise.

Early detection and treatment usually results in a cure but late diagnosis only has a five-year survival rate of six per cent.

The actor said: "Campaigning about bowel cancer with younger people has never really been addressed. It is about getting people to check for symptoms and go to their GP." He also chronicled his treatment on his Twitter page, where he has thousands of followers. On there he would liken his battle with the disease to a boxing match where he says he was determined to be the 'last one standing'

Fresh from his break in LA he is now with the 9 to 5 show until the end of the tour in Manchester in August. He says it is hard to tour but he enjoys the variety.

"Life on road is tough but great fun and it is great to see different places in the country." The show runs until Saturday at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

His previous theatre credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Grease and he has also featured as a regular judge on the the BBC show Strictly Dance Fever.

He has had a range of leading roles in London's West End and on tour, including starring opposite Don Johnson in Guys and Dolls, playing Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium and the leading role of Jerry Lukowski in the London cast of The Full Monty.

During his stay in Wolverhampton the actor, who hails from Bognor Regis, has been tweeting about the city, saying: "Great audience in Wolverhampton, great to be back playing this role with such a cracking company."