It's the moment every showbiz performer dreads. You get on the stage, open your mouth, and forget the words.

It's a situation that Sam Kane, the West End singer and actor, once found himself in.

Fortunately, the Liverpudlian performer is something of a past master at improvisation.

"I do have that skill of making lyrics up on the spot, if the memory fails," said Sam, who is currently touring in the musical show Viva Broadway.

"The thing with songs is that people do not normally know all the words anyway.

"I remember appearing at a club once when I completely forgot all the words, so I made them all up. When I looked out over the crowd, I could see they were all singing along with me!"

Sam is touring in Viva Broadway with his wife – fellow actor, and former Page Three pin-up, Linda Lusardi.

The show, backed by dancers, sees the couple sing a glitzy run-down of hits from Broadway musicals, including Phantom Of The Opera and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.

"I've been in musical theatre for quite a few years – but it's not really my bag," admits Sam, who found fame in his acting roles in Brookside and Coronation Street.

"It's not something I listen to that much – I'm more into pop music and motown – so it can be quite a test to learn all the words.

"I suppose it's just time-consuming. The older you get, you start to go slower with the grey cell action. You just see how much sticks.

"You can rest assured, though, that I know all the lyrics for these songs."

Alongside making sure the words are firmly implanted, Sam sees the other challenge of the show as keeping his voice going – for what looks a testing run of concerts.

"The challenges are keeping yourself to a standard of fitness and vocal ability," he said.

"It's about drinking lots of water – unless you do that after every song, you can find yourself struggling."

And while the tour – which runs from March until April – might dot around the country, there is the consolation of travelling with Linda.

"We've done panto together and Brookside and Emmerdale," said Sam, who met Linda when they were both working on a pantomime 16 years ago.

"Travelling can be an absolute killer – particularly if you've got to get from Torquay to Rhyl overnight," Sam said.

"But having your best mate next to you makes it a whole lot easier."

The couple are finalising the details for another panto for Christmas 2010, while, in the meantime, Sam is gearing up for a return to an acting role in Popstar! The Musical – which looks at the phenomenon of modern reality TV music programmes.

* Viva Broadway is on Saturday, 7.30pm, at Futurist Theatre, Foreshore Road, Scarborough

Tickets are £8-£16, call (01723) 365789