From `This Life' to that betrayal

Tortured souls are becoming Ramon Tikaram's speciality. After playing Ferdy, the sexually confused Mexican despatch rider in the cult television series This Life, the 31- year-old actor has been cast as Judas Iscariot in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Tikaram takes over the part on 15 September, making his West End debut at the Lyceum Theatre in London. He will star alongside Glenn Carter as Jesus of Nazareth and Joanna Ampil as Mary Magdalene in the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

Tikaram's latest part will be a change from his role as long-haired, leather-clad Ferdy, whom This Life fans saw enjoying a number of steamy encounters with members of both sexes.

In the recently released film Kama Sutra he plays an erotic temple sculptor. Kathy Marks