COULD this be Rome’s last stand?

A Roman fanatic who made headlines around the world after turning his terraced home in Gilesgate, Durham City into a shrine to all things Empire is mounting one last campaign: to finally conquer Britain’s Got Talent.

Having had his previous act, which saw him reciting lines from the hit film Gladiator, pilloried as “horrible, horrible” by Simon Cowell following his last appearance on the ITV talent show in 2012, Tony ‘The Roman’ Jose has returned with a new routine he is convinced will wow the judges.

The retired lorry driver has teamed up with friend Michael ‘Gardenius’ Jones and Jo Yelland as Egyptian empress Cleopatra for a music and dance number choreographed by the fittingly named Jane Cowell, of Tempest Dance Studio in Gilesgate.

“I hope we can get through to the live shows,” Tony, aka Maximus, said.

“But even if we don’t it’s an experience. It’s a fantastic day at the audition.”

Rehearsals began two months ago, ahead of auditions in Manchester this autumn.

Ms Yelland, of West Cornforth, who has attracted media attention as a campaigner against the “bedroom tax”, charity fundraiser and burlesque dancer Evil Miss Leele, said: “The guys contacted the studio and Jane told me about it.

“It won me over. I said: ‘I love it. It sounds amazing. I’m in’. It’s a lot of fun, a bit of a laugh.”

The trio are keen not to give too much away about their act, but there are costumes, dance moves and a few dramatic moments.

But Mr Jose, 71, who dons his Roman gear to raise money for a range of good causes, says it will be his last bid for TV stardom.

“If we don’t get through that’ll be it for TV. This is my last attempt,” he said.

The judges for the next series of Britain’s Got Talent are still to be confirmed, with Amanda Holden, who has been on the panel since 2007, having hinted at a possible exit.