KEVIN Simm seems remarkably calm considering everything going on his life at the moment.

Tomorrow morning tickets go on sale for Wet Wet Wet’s UK tour, the first to feature Kevin as lead singer of one of Britain’s most popular groups. And on Sunday he will return to King George’s Hall, Blackburn, to star in East Lancashire’s biggest family pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

But the Chorley-born singer who first found fame as a member of the pop group Liberty X and went on to win The Voice in 2016 is taking it all in his stride.

“I’m not the sort of person who gets too carried away,” he said. “Over the years I’ve become a realist and I never take anything for granted.”

But behind that calm exterior, you sense an inner excitement is bubbling away.

“I’m delighted to be heading back to King George’s Hall again,” he said. “It’s become like a second home to me over the years.”

Sleeping Beauty will be Kevin’s sixth appearance in pantomime at the venue over the years - last year he starred in Beauty and the Beast.

“It was actually good fun to hide behind the mask for part of the show last year,” he said. “Although the Beast isn’t exactly a baddie, I’ve never had the chance to play anyone with a bit of anger in them before.

“It’s great to be going back for so many reasons. It’s close to home so I can still be with my family over Christmas” - Kevin and his wife Laura have two young boys Charlie and Oliver - “and many of the staff are still there from when I did the first show. It’s a nice environment to go back to and see those friendly faces every day.”

Once again the Blackburn pantomime is being produced by Stageworks, based at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

“That’s another real plus for me,” said Kevin, “working with the same team again.”

Before Kevin started to work on his script for the pantomime he had the minor matter of learning Wet Wet Wet’s extensive back catalogue for two show case dates in London and Glasgow.

“The songs are amazing - they are right up my street and the lads have been absolutely brilliant with me,” he said.

Kevin, 38, was invited to join the band, known for hits such as Sweet Little Mystery and, of course, Love is All Around, after lead singer Marti Pellow left to pursue a solo career.

“I know the fanbase are a little bit split not having Marti in the band, but all I can do is my best and hopefully win them over,” said Kevin.

“The reaction to the first two shows was overwhelming and confirmed to me that I’m in the right place. I am really looking forward to performing for and meeting more of the band’s fans across the country in 2019.

“With the lads there has been no awkwardness from the start. I went to meet Graham (the band’s bassist Graeme Clark) at his house when they asked me if I fancied working with them and that broke the ice straight away.”

Sleeping Beauty is a King George’s Hall, Blackburn, from Sunday until New Year’s Eve. Details from 0844 847 1664 or www,kinggeorgeshall.com. Wet Wet Wet’s 18-date spring tour goes on sale at 9am tomorrow. Details from www.wetwetwet.co.uk