'People come up to me in the street calling me a dirty git and all sorts.. then they tell you it's a great story' TONY'S LIFE AS FAIR CITY CHEAT.

Byline: By LYNNE KELLEHER

FAIR City star Tony Tormey has revealed he's getting shouted at in the street for being a love cheat.

Tony, who plays lothario businessman Paul Brennan, finds out tonight his lover murdered her husband.

He revealed the storyline is so good fans of the show have told him off for having an affair with murderess Fiona.

He said: "People are coming up to me, calling me every sort of name under the sun.

"I'm being called a dirty git and a dirty stop-out and all sorts.

"It's all good banter - people come up, have a lash and then tell you what a good story it is.

"And it's really nice when people talk about the storyline as that means it's getting their attention."

Soap star Tony has become a household name taking on the role of Fair City's cheeky womaniser.

But even he can't remember the names of all Paul's girlfriends.

He said: "I tried to count them the other day. It came to nearly 20 in total and I knew I couldn't remember them all.

"A lot of lads will say to me that it must be great kissing all these women.

"But an on-screen love scene is the most unromantic thing you could do. Usually you have to do the love scene at about 11 in the morning with all these guys from the film crew looking at you.

"You have literally hardly said hello and you have to get off with them.

"That's when the giggling starts - it can be hilarious but it's definitely not romantic."

Tony is about to turn the tables by swapping the role of Paul for a taxi driver bigamist in a new play Caught In The Net.

He will star with a string of his Fair City co-stars including George McMahon, who starred as Mondo, and Jenny Kavanagh, who plays Cleo.

Tony said: "I'm playing a taxi driver married to two women at the same time. He had a daughter with one and a son with the other and they end up meeting on the internet."

In real life Tony is a doting dad whose life revolves around his family.

And he admits he's besotted with his wife Kate, his son Max, three, and 11-month-old daughter Isabella.

He said: "I absolutely adore them. When I walk in the door, Max jumps at me and Isabella crawls over.

"If you've had a bad day you just instantly forget about it when those two come at you.

"When I'm touring the country with this play I will have to make it back to Dublin to see them.

"They're a bit young to bring with us but we'll work something out because I'd go gaga without see ing them." Max is now beginning to recognise him on the telly - and does double takes when he sees his dad in the room when Fair City is on.

Tony said: "Max sometimes asks me where I've gone if I go out the door on the screen and I'm still standing in the room at home."

The actor, who has been with the soap since it started almost two decades ago, said he has no plans to leave the RTE show.

He added: "I get new scripts every week which is fantastic. Every day is different.

"It's only soap where you can do plays and do theatre when you're off screen. If I was in EastEnders or Coronation Street I would not be allowed to do that."

Tony added he considered moving to London for acting roles in the past but has put it on the back-burner to be a good father.

He said: "I have two kids and your priorities change. I have worked in London a couple of times and I would love to have a chance to go over there but the kids are small now.

"Maybe when they're bigger but at that stage I'll probably be balder and fatter."

'Love scenes are hilarious but they are definitely not romantic'

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CAPTION(S):

FATAL ATTRACTION: Fiona and Paul; CITY SLICKER: Tony Tormey plays smooth serial womaniser Paul Brennan; TRUE LOVE: With wife Kate Pic: COLLINS