Duncan James says dressing up in drag turns him on.

Duncan James in his 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' costume

Duncan James in his 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' costume

The Blue singer is preparing to play drag queen Tick in the musical 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' and has revealed the idea of taking on a different persona aroused him.

He said: "I've never done drag before but I really got in to it.

"My new role is nothing like I have ever done. Normally I play a metrosexual man but this time is different.

"I can relate to the character so much. He has a 10-year-old son, so do I. He's a gay guy, I'm a gay guy.

"My agent thought it would be a good way to show a different side to me and I really was turned on by that actually."

The 37-year-old star - who came out as gay in 2009 - admits that although he's never done drag professionally before, he has dabbled in wearing women's clothes.

He told the Daily Star Online: "I did it at my birthday party.

"[Former 'Dancing on Ice' judge] Jason Gardiner came to my party at my mum's house and we were very, very drunk.

"Upstairs my mum has a wig and Jason was like, 'Oh my God, you've got to do drag, I'll do you make-up, put your mum's wig on then come down and freak everybody out."

"I was drunk so we just did it, it wasn't nerve wracking."

However, Duncan admits his Blue bandmates - Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe and Antony Costa - weren't too keen on his new look.

He added: "I didn't go all the way and do proper make-up, it was just a bit of mascara and lipstick.

"I came downstairs, the Blue boys were there and everyone was like, 'What the f**k are you doing?' "