SHE was the waif-like creature who captivated millions with her performances on the first series of The Voice.

And now Bo Bruce is heading out on the road on her first tour.

“This is really what it has all been about,” said Bo. “I have always had a very strong idea about what direction I wanted my music to take and I even thought long and hard about going on The Voice because I knew that I wouldn’t let anyone change those ideas too much.”

Bo’s debut album Before I Sleep has received great critical acclaim and the tour, which comes to Manchester next week, is the latest stage of her establishing herself as a credible artist.

On The Voice, Bo was mentored by The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue and was beaten into second place by the big-voiced Leane Mitchell.

“I don’t regret The Voice for a minute,” she said. “The reason I chose to work with Danny was that I knew he’d take a more organic approach and would let me retain a lot of control. He was very supportive during the show and we have written a song together.”

Bo — her full name is Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce — is quick to play down her ‘privileged background’ and her mother’s death of cancer shortly after the final of The Voice is deemed out of bounds.

Due to her commitments, Bo has not been tuning in every week to the current series of The Voice.

“I have caught the odd bit of it,” she said.

““It’s quite weird because when you’re on the show you get to know all the crew and I spend my time looking at who is behind the cameras when it’s on the TV and wondering what’s going on behind the scenes.”

On her album, Bo has worked with a number of major artists including Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid and members of Athlete, Zero 7 and Alisha’s Attic.

“It was a great experience and a joy,” she said, “but I think for my next album I might get back to a more simple approach, which will just be me writing songs.

“But I’m really excited about taking the songs on tour. We’ve been rehearsing and it’s all come together very well.

“The album has done really well — it charted in the top 10 — and I know that many people who buy it will just enjoy it and never go to a gig, which is absolutely fine.

“But I really want the live shows to demonstrate to people who I am.”

  • Bo Bruce, Manchester Deaf Institute, Thursday, June 27. Details from 0161 832 1111