Singer/songwriter, Joe McElderry, says that appearing at Buckingham Palace was truly terrifying.

The X-Factor winner was invited to perform at a reception in the palace that celebrated young people in performing arts. “I was petrified, we performed in this room, a spectacular looking ballroom with a theatre at the back, and the Queen sat there.

“There was an audience of about 20 people, all influential and famous. The person in the world you don’t want to mess up in front of is the Queen, so I was very nervous,’’ said Joe, who went on to meet the royal family on several occasions, including the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

After two successful runs in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, the singer is back on the road with his band, and will dropping in to Swindon as part of his UK tour.

“I enjoy the routine of touring, one night in one city, look around, do the gig. We have a great time,’’ said Joe.

The singer was invited to the Olivier Awards ceremony to sing alongside former Josephs Lee Mead and Jason Donovan. Like a regenerated Doctor Who, Joe is the current incarnation, so he got to wear that coat.

“Singing alongside them was an honour,’’ he said. “I have always loved the music of Joseph, it was wonderful to be part of it.’’

Musical theatre was a major part of the singer’s earlier career as he appeared in Dirty Dancing and The Who’s Tommy.

“Tommy was a darker story than Joseph, it needed a different mindset. Roger Daltrey sent me a good luck message. We had met at events for the teen cancer fund,’’ said Joe.

The singer ventured into film music when he sang There’s A Place For Us, on the soundtrack for The Voyage of the Dawntreader, based on one of the Narnia novels.

“I did the UK version. Carrie Underwood, who wrote the song, is my favourite artist,’’ said Joe. “I would love to do a musical film.’’

The singer won the crown in TV’s From Pop Star to Opera Star, but he had no idea how tough the training was going to be, or how it would stand him in such good stead.

“I thought it was going to be easy, that I would be so bad that it would be funny, but then I started putting in the hard work, it was the hardest thing, we were singing five hours a day. It was like going to the gym. The training I got changed the way I use my voice,’’ said Joe.

When he goes on holiday, the singer likes to ski, so had no qualms about signing up for The Jump, the TV show hosted by Davina McCall.

“I have been skiing since I was seven, but this was hideous, there was a lot more than just skiing. Actually it was also great fun.’’

Joe began his first steps to fame on another reality TV show, the X Factor, winning it in 2009.

“It’s the reason I am here, it is a wonderful platform and if young ones coming along use it wisely it is a great stepping stone. I love the show and I watch it when I am home, but I get nervous for them. I know how it feels,’’ he said.

Joe was the winner that came up against the campaign to keep the X Factor off the Christmas number one slot, losing out narrowly to Rage Against The Machine, but he says it actually did him and the show a favour.

“They made it into a chart battle and it worked out for the best because people remember it, and my song sold twice as many as it would have done. The showbiz world is weird and wonderful,’’ he said.

Joe auditioned for The X Factor in 2007 and made it to bootcamp, but he felt he was too young and decided to pull out but in 2009 he auditioned again and the rest is history leading to five album releases, tours, musical theatre, his own band and numerous appearances at The London Palladium.

Joe comes from a realistic although supportive family. He was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear. “They guided me in the right direction, got excited at my achievements but always had my interests at heart,’’ he said.

Joe McElderry and his band will be performing at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday, May 2. Tickets are £28.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison