Former G4 singer Jonathan Ansell will be performing with friends at the Alban Arena in St Albans later this month

FORMER X Factor favourite Jonathan Ansell will be appearing in concert in Hertfordshire later this month.

Welwyn Hatfield Times reporter Simon Wesson chatted to the former G4 man ahead of his tour.

COME the end of the year 2004 and a certain Jonathan Ansell was on our screens every Saturday night.

The name might not necessarily ring too many bells with everybody, but the face will certainly strike a chord with any fan of The X Factor.

For it was Mr Ansell who was the lead singer of classical group G4 and was a huge hit on the first series of Simon Cowell’s ITV talent show, finishing runners-up, with the three other members, to Steve Brookstein.

Unlike their fellow competitor, who has since been seen playing in coffee shops, G4 went worldwide, signing a deal with Sony and then going on to have three platinum albums.

Since they split in 2007, luckily the ‘Justin Timberlake of opera’ hasn’t become one of the talented X Factor acts to hit the scrapyard.

In fact, he released two consecutive number one albums, Tenor at the Movies, and Forever.

This success was followed up last year when Jonathan took the lead role in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s hit musical Whistle Down the Wind. He was also in Keith Dewhurst’s adaptation of Lark Rise to Candleford.

Now the Bonor Regis-born star is embarking on his first solo tour, Jonathan Ansell and Friends Sing The Songs of G4, where he will be heading to a list of destinations nationwide, including the Alban Arena in St Albans.

The Welwyn Hatfield Times caught up with the joyful new dad, who said life is going well.

“I’m really looking forward to the tour starting now, it’s solo so it’s a bit full on, but you are so much more in control.

“It’s a completely different position to be in but it’s nice to have that. In the end it is always down to what you adjudge the audience to want.

“I will try and mix up the performances as much as possible. I would like to play some songs people wouldn’t have heard before and I am spoilt for choice with the list of G4 songs, as well as all the other classics.”

Jonathan has already played at the majority of his tour’s 23 destinations, however he said he is delighted to be playing at a few new venues, one of which will be St Albans.

“It’s great to go to new places, as you never know what to expect, which really is the same as the first date in Dartford for me, as we shall find out then if this is the right show.

“Anyway, hopefully by St Albans it should be the finished article!”

Fans at the Alban Arena will find out on June 23.