IF you have ever wondered what Julie Hesmondhalgh’s favourite songs are or wanted to learn more about her remarkable career, then a unique show at Darwen Library Theatre on Thursday will have all the answers.

Tom Seals Presents... will feature the Accrington-born former Coronation and Broadchurch star in conversation with Tom Seals, widely recognised as one of the country’s finest boogie-woogie piano players, fresh from his own interview show on Sky.

“Think of it a bit like an irreverent Desert Island discs,” said Tom, “I have asked Julie to tell me 10 of her favourite songs and I will pick five of them to play on the night with the band. I don’t want to know why she has picked them in advance as I’m as keen as the audience to discover what these songs mean to her.”

The Bolton News: Tom Seals

The idea for Tom Seals Presents developed during lockdown.

“I thought it would work as a live show but then Covid happened,” said Tom. “So with the work stopped, I set my band up in my mum’s back garden and we did the shows online. The first person we had was Matt Lucas and I think about 90 people saw it on Facebook.

“By week six when K T Tunstall was my guest over 250,000 were watching it on YouTube. Then from there, I got offered a 13-part series on Sky. It’s all been a bit mad really.”

Tom admits that the show format has allowed him to talk to people he’s always wanted to meet.

“Oh, this is definitely me trying to meet people I’m a fan of,” he laughed.

His TV guests have included Sir Kenny Dalglish, Diane Abbott, ex-F1 driver David Coulthard and Toyah. Now he is taking the show format into theatres where his guests include Noddy Holder from Slade, sports presenter Mark Pougatch and, for Darwen, Julie Hesmondhalgh.

“Obviously like so many people I grew up watching Julie on Coronation Street but I don’t think it was until I saw her in Broadchurch and Happy Valley that I realised just how good she is.

“I love the fact that she’s proud of her northern roots and where she comes from. Initially the reason I got in touch was that she was so vocal opposing the closure of the Oldham Coliseum.

“I thought we might be able to do this show at the Coliseum as a fundraiser but that got overtaken by events and the theatre closed. But we were in touch and I really wanted to do the show with her and Darwen seemed to be an ideal location for it.

“I have got her selection of 10 songs and there are some interesting choices among them. Whichever ones I choose to play with the band we will make them jazzy and bluesy and give them a different spin.”

The success of his music-based chat show has effectively opened up a second career for Tom.

“My hope is that they play off each other and I can keep them both going,” he said. “Before Covid I had done some major gigs. I’d played the Montreaux Jazz Festival; I supported Roger Waters at Hyde Park. To play Ronnie Scott’s - the legendary London jazz club - was always my dream and I have had a residency there for the last five Christmasses.

“But until you get that TV exposure, you’re not really in the public eye. Now the two strands of my career are working for each other.

“Because I’ve had a series on Sky, bigger festivals are interested in me playing there and because of the bigger festivals, more TV work is likely.”

Tom’s musical career can be traced to his grandad who ran a big band in Crewe.

“He was a professional musician, a trumpet player and conductor of the Versatile Concert Orchestra. My dad would take me to watch the band play all the big band classics like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Sinatra.

“Then on top of that my parents took me to see Jools Holland and that’s where my love of boogie piano came from.”

Tom has subsequently worked with Jools Holland and his band on many occasions.

“For past the past seven years I been involved in the duelling piano show with Jools. He’s my hero, so to sit opposite him and to do a duelling pianos night is unbelievable.

“There have been a lot of nice ‘pinch me’ moments over the last couple of years that’s for sure. It is hard work, but I love what I do.”

Tom has been compiling lists for possible guests for his music/chat show.

“One is a wish list of people who I think I can reach and the other is my totally unrealistic list,” he said.

“Billy Joel is on that list, he’s probably the one I’d love to get, or perhaps Obama. You’ve got to think big.”

Tom also revealed he would love to sit down with members of the royal family and learn more about their music tastes.

“Well I was called up to represent the nation by Prince William,” he suddenly states. “I was asked to perform at a massive event in Dubai and he was in the front row - he loves boogie piano. Now that would be cool if I could get him.”

Tom Seals presents ... Julie Hesmondhalgh, Darwen Library Theatre, Thuerday, June 15. Details from www.bwdvenues.com