MORE than thirty years in to a career that has encompassed Aussie soap superstardom, worldwide pop chart-toppers and some of the biggest roles in musical theatre, Jason Donovan is in the form of his life.

As he takes to the stage at Southampton Common tonight for Let's Rock Southampton, the 48-year-old is feeling better than ever.

"So many musicians are horrified by the thought of doing eight shows a week, but in musical theatre it's normal. It's a discipline and I've trained my voice to do it. My voice is better than it's ever been and I don't miss shows.

"When you're doing all those shows, you have to have a lot of focus, be disciplined and look after yourself. I always tour with a juicer and keep healthy. I'm becoming very familiar with M&S and where they are around the country!

"I think the theatre helps in other ways too. At a couple of my shows there have been a lot of older people. I'm not sure if they thought it was Jason Donovan in Ten Good Reasons the Musical!"

The former Neighbours star, who had hits with Too Many Broken Hearts, duet Especially For You with his on-screen wife Kylie Minogue and Ten Good Reasons, and went on to appear in shows like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Sweeney Todd and Rocky Horror Show, certainly likes to keep busy.

Jason's Ten Good Reasons tour was a storming success when it visited Southampton's 02 Guildhall two months ago and will return to the South Coast with a Christmas date in Portsmouth.

He's jetting back into the UK this morning for the Let's Rock gig following a week-long stint in Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Tel Aviv.

"It will be a bit of a rush for me, but I'm really excited about it. I've done a lot of festivals over the last few years and the 80s ones are great. It should be a good atmosphere and good pop music.

"In the 90s there was a bit more of a rebellion against pop with Oasis and Brit pop, but 80s pop was bright and fun and happy. It's a celebration of that really."

Father of three Jason now plans to take a short summer break with his family, partner Angela and children Jemma, Zac and Molly, before throwing himself headlong into a new musical theatre project in the autumn, the rock n roll musical Million Dollar Quartet, which visits Southampton in November.

Sat in the Mayflower's Circle Bar, dressed in a blue t-shirt and white jeans, Jason muses: "The problem with me is that I don't relax enough. I'm trying to find a good balance in my life. I have three kids so I have to keep busy, it's not a cheap time in my life!

"I decided when I finished Priscilla that I'd learn the words for this before I have a summer break. We start rehearsals in late August and I do know the show very well already, which is a good place to be.

"It was hard work, but the lines are there now. I have a wander in Hyde Park and talk to myself in a southern American drawl!"

Jason has signed up to appear in a UK tour of Million Dollar Quartet following its success in the West End, Las Vegas and on Broadway. playing legendary record producer Sam Phillips.

Inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time, it depicts one of the greatest jam sessions of all time.

"For me it's a great acting part, so I was pretty keen on it for that reason. It's a great story and in Sam Phillips and his experience in making records, I saw parallels with the whole thing I went through in the 80s with Pete Waterman. There's also parallels with Simon Cowell and Motown Records. I can really relate to the story.

"I like a challenge and this is certainly a challenge in terms of dialogue. I don't think I've ever read so many words in life.

"It was such a pivotal time in music history with Elvis and the birth of white rock n roll. It's a fascinating story."

Despite all the years of practice, Jason still suffers with nerves "all the time."

"My biggest fear is fear itself. I'm an anxious person, although I know how to handle it probably better than I did. I certainly like to challenge myself - getting up and singing Too Many Broken Hearts is not a challenge like playing Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet with 60 pages of dialogue."

His lack of a plan beyond the end of 2016 is currently concerning Jason, who likes to go against the showbiz grain and have work booked well in advance. He hopes to pick up some more TV and film work.

"Million Dollar Quartet takes me through to the end of the year and it's a little bit unknown after that. I'm one that really likes to know what I'm doing. I'd like to do more TV and film, more acting, but it hasn't been as forthcoming for me.

"Being Jason Donovan is a blessing and a curse. People know you as you and that's the way it goes. It's why people like Madonna struggle to be actresses, they're known for one thing. Plus I'm an Australian living in the UK and in Australia there would probably be more opportunities for straight TV. I don't blame them for not casting me in a gritty drama in Newcastle. Now I would be nervous doing that!

"I try not to regret anything in my life, but I really should have spent more time in the States. There's a lot of Australian actors doing very well in Hollywood. But I've got three kids and a family and those sorts of risks are not as easy to take at my age."

With so many strings to his bow, the UK is glad to keep our adopted Australian son.

Jason appears at Let's Rock Southampton tonight. See letsrocksouthampton.com

Million Dollar Quartet is at Mayflower from November 22 to 26. See mayflower.org.uk

Jason's Ten Good Reasons tour visits Portsmouth Guildhall on December 19. See portsmouthguildhall.org.uk