BRITAIN'S Got Talent opera singing star Lucy Kay plays The Narrator on the Joseph Tour that has pulled into Southampton Mayflower Theatre this week. Here she talks to the Daily Echo about how she got involved in the show, the reality TV show that catapulted her into the spotlight and life on the road.

"I’m a classical singer, I have been since I was seven, and having not long come off Britain’s Got Talent, I wanted to change my direction because I’ve always loved musicals and I really wanted to play a musical role. Then I moved management and I told my new agency I really wanted to try something different to warbling Nessun Dorma all the time (laughs)! And it would give me a chance to show audiences that I can do a different style. So then I was auditioned, and it was a very different process than what I’m used to with classical singing. For example, there’s a lot of “sparkle” that I have to do! I’m so used to singing operatic arias which can be quite dark and depressing, but this is more happy and romantic and sparkly! I’m finding it quite a challenge but I’m also very excited."

WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE SHOW WHEN THE OFFER CAME UP, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS?

"Yes, actually I used to watch the video when I was younger, it’s very much part of my childhood and I loved it. Funnily enough, the part I always wanted when I was younger is the soprano part in the song One More Angel in Heaven, the really small part (laughs). So it has always been a favourite musical of mine. "

JOSEPH MARKS YOUR PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE DEBUT, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING – WAS THIS EVER IN YOUR PLANS?

"As much as I love the musical, I never saw myself in the Narrator part as it’s something I never thought I’d get, it’s a dream. I set out from the age of seven wanting to be like Charlotte Church, to sing classical music but be a commercial singer. But then I went to college and most of my friends were doing a musical theatre course and I thought, I want to do that! I want to dance about and get into character. Because as much as I love opera and I trained hard in it, it wasn’t as much fun as my friends were having and my mind was always wondering towards their course, so yes, I’ve always had that desire. So it’s great to be able to make my debut in Joseph. "

HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT IT, NERVOUS, EXCITED? HAVE YOU MEMORISED ALL THE COLOURS IN THE SONG JOSEPH’S COAT?

"I’m so nervous, because it’s completely different style of voice and I’m using different parts of my body I’ve never used before and it’s very guttural. But it’s sparkly and the way I have to sing, instead of singing a line, I have to sing the words, I’m telling a story, so without singing it through like an operatic singer would, I have to get the story across. So that’s how it’s so different and I am nervous because no one’s seen me do anything like this. It’s my chance to show people I am more than just a classical singer. As for the colours, it’s a great song, it’s tricky to learn (laughs) but I am getting there. I’m learning them in sets of fours and they’re coming along well now!"

DO YOU KNOW YOUR LEADING MAN JOE MCELDERRY, HAVE YOUR PATHS EVER CROSSED BEFORE?

"I watched him on The X Factor and we tweeted each other, but we’d never met before this and I am very excited to be working with him!

EVERYONE KNOWS YOU FROM BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT – DO YOU STILL WEAR THE SHOW’S BADGE WITH PRIDE, DO YOU STILL WATCH IT?

"Yes, I do still watch it and yes, I am proud because I wouldn’t be doing this and I would not be doing anything, I’d probably still be at university doing a musical theatre course! I’m very proud of it, it got me where I needed to be and it opened a lot of doors for me, especially this one, so I have BGT to thank for introducing me to the music world, and now I’m being introduced to the musical theatre world, so it’s brilliant."

YOU’RE ALSO ANOTHER TV TALENT SHOW CONTESTANT TO STAR IN JOSEPH AFTER LEE MEAD, JOE MCELDERRY, LLOYD DANIELS AND AMELIA LILY – DO YOU THINK TV TALENT SHOWS ARE A GREAT PLATFORM FOR SINGERS TO BRANCH OUT INTO OTHER MUSICAL FIELDS?

"It is because even though I said I would have done a musical theatre course, would I have had the guts to go and pursue that? So going on a programme like BGT has set me up for the press, audiences and people’s reactions and opened all the right doors that I probably wouldn’t have gone through. As much as some people knock shows like BGT and the X Factor, it creates stars. I tried so many times to send CDs out to producers but I didn’t know the right people. And that was when I decided to go on the show and stand out. And I did and I am proud of that."

YOU’RE ON THE ROAD WITH JOSEPH UNTIL JULY AND YOU HAVE TOURED BEFORE WITH RHYDIAN AND COLLABRO - HOW DO YOU FIND BEING ON THE ROAD?

"I quite enjoy it actually! It’s new, I’m in a new city every week, and I know I’m going to be with people who I know I’m going to have fun with. Some of the Joseph cast have already got a little group going and I know the understudy, she’s really lovely – and she’s Matt from Collabro’s girlfriend. I feel really excited and I can’t wait.