AFTER wowing audiences on X Factor, Jahmene Douglas is being reunited with his fellow contestants for the start of the X Factor live tour.

The Swindon star has been in Manchester this week as he prepares for the first leg of the tour, which will see him take in some of the big cities like Birmingham and Glasgow.

Jahmene, who signed a record contract with Sony in December, has been in the studio working on tracks for his first album, but has put that on hold to concentrate on the tour.

He said: “I am excited to start the tour. The rehearsals have been running all week and it is nothing like the TV shows, we have been going over and over the routines.

“I think I can do the routines in my sleep.

“It is great with all the people from the show, they became really good friends and it is nice to be back spending time with them.

“I think people can expect a great show, we are a lot more relaxed for this because we don’t have the pressure of being judged every week like it was for the TV show.”

Jahmene, 22, has pledged to avoid pop and stick with soul music when he compiles his debut album which is expected to be released this year.

“I don’t want to go down the pop route because that’s not me,” he said, “so I’m going into the soul thing.

“I started going in the studio but I said I would rather concentrate on the tour for now and then go back into the studio after.

“Being in the studio has been exciting. I have a lot of different inspiration I want to draw from people like Whitney Houston.

“I want to inspire people and start making music the way it used to be.”

Kicking off today in Manchester, The X Factor 2013 Live Tour is a country wide arena tour which will travel to Brighton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Liverpool, London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dublin and Belfast with contestants performing classic songs and viewers’ favourites from the TV series.

To book tickets call the 24-hour ticket hotline on 0844 338 0000.