Ray Quinn

The pint-sized performer took time out from his busy rehearsal schedule to talk to us about nearly missing out on his dream-come-true and his hopes for a future on the big screen.

SOME people are simply born to entertain. They want to make people smile, to charm them and move them.

For Ray Quinn the stage is his sanctuary. It is where he feels at home and the one place he most wants to be.

"I don't get nervous at all. I never have. I just get really excited. I love it so much, there is no room for nerves." he said. It is rare for a 19-year-old to be so calm about appearing in front of an audience of thousands, releasing a debut album and living the showbiz dream - all without even the hint of a shaky hand.

"I wasn't nervous on The X-Factor and I won't be nervous on the tour. I am more excited than ever to perform on my own. I can't wait for it to start," he added For as long as he can remember, Ray has had that fire in his stomach and the sparkle in his eye that tells the world entertaining is what he lives for. And now that the world is listening it truly is his dream come true.

But it all so nearly remained a fantasy when X-Factor mean guy Simon Cowell initially left him out of the final seven.

"It makes me so happy to be doing what I love. It matters even more after coming close to not having this chance. I wanted the earth to swallow me up when I wasn't chosen. And now I have had a platinum-selling album, it's such an amazing feeling."

Ray says coming so close to missing out taught him the importance of hard work and he advised other young budding stars to never be complacent.

"You have to fight for what you want," he said. "When I wash't chosen at first I learned that I can't be too laid-back and relaxed about things. It made me realise a lot."

Currently preparing for the solo tour, which kicks off at the end of this month, Ray is busywith costume fittings, band practice and countless rehearsals. With long days and little rest, he is still as enthusiastic as ever and no amount of hard work can put him off.

Motivated by his love of classic Rat Pack tunes, singing became second nature to Ray. But acting came first, then dancing. He is most famous for his role as teenager Anthony Murray in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, where he picked up a host of awards. And recently, using his expertise as a former child dancer, he was a judge on ITV talent contest Baby Ballroom, which he said inspired him to re-start lessons.

Ray says he loves, acting, singing and dancing equally, and performing as a solo artist allows him to bring them altogether.

"Its all about telling a story when I'm on stage. I might be a solo singing artist but when I'm on stage I'm acting and dancing too. Its a whole package of everything I love doing. I want to be like Sammy Davis Junior, who was an amazing all-rounder."

Ray has lots of things up his sleeve for the future but is keeping tight-lipped so as not to jinx his luck. But he did reveal his aims include appearing in the West End, starring in such shows as Grease and Saturday Night Fever and even leading in big screen films like the musical Hairspray.

He added: "Hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of me for many more years to come."

Ray is appearing at King George's Hall in Blackburn on October 9 with hits made famous by Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Elton John. Ring the box office on 01254 582582 for tickets.