Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair visited the coast with his wife ahead of a theatre show in the city... or did he?

Actors Jack Whittle and Tori Burgess took a trip down to the coast ahead of the opening of Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera at the Theatre Royal Brighton.

The pair, who play Tony Blair and his wife Cherie respectively, said their trip down to the coast was a "really lovely day" - despite the heckles and close encounters with seagulls.

The Argus: Tony and Cherie soaking up the sun on the pierTony and Cherie soaking up the sun on the pier (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The political power couple enjoyed a ride on the seafront carousel, a trip on the Volk's Railway and an ice cream at Black Rock before finishing their day trip to the city on the Palace Pier.

In a way this was a homecoming for the duo, as the Labour Party Conferences were often held in the Brighton Centre during Blair's time as prime minister - although this time their trip was not to the party conference but to promote the theatre show, set to open in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday.

Tori said: "The show is a look at Tony Blair's life. We start on his deathbed and go back in time and we see him in his childhood, where he meets people like Gordon Brown - it's a very silly retelling of how he came to power as one of the most famous Labour Prime Ministers who was loved by so many people."

The Argus: Tony riding a carousel horse called TonyTony riding a carousel horse called Tony (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The show follows his journey from a "peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades."

The show was created by composer Steve Brown and Comic Harry Hill, who said Brighton is one of his favourite destinations on the tour as the audience will be a "smart bunch".

The Argus: The pair on the Volk's RailwayThe pair on the Volk's Railway (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Jack said: "The audiences are going crazy for the show, the laughter is non-stop for 90 minutes and people are even shouting at us after the show calling us Tony and Cherie.

"The audience feel like they are another cast members, joining in and heckling, it's really good fun.

"It's quite relatable to be watching something political especially in such a topsy-turvy political time at the moment."

Tori added: "Whatever your politics are, whether it is something you've seen or the news or in your past - the show makes fun of everybody regardless of your standpoint."

It runs until Saturday, July 1 and tickets are selling out fast.