Dancing On Ice winner Hayley Tamaddon on her role in Birmingham's Chicago

The TV star and past winner of Dancing On Ice is playing Roxie Hart in the iconic Chicago and has been on the road for a year.

She's bringing the role to Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre over Christmas with a run that started on Monday and runs until New Year's Eve.

Tamaddon is happy to be spending the festive season in the Second City.

"I've been to the New Alex a number of times with different shows," she says. "The show's doing amazing and we're nearly at the end of a year-long tour. We've had sold-out houses all around the country. It's fantastic people are still coming to see it and supporting the local theatres. It's been a hard year and I'm tired because we've had two weeks holiday this year. We're dead on our feet now."

But the show must go on.

Tamaddon is appearing alongside West End and Celebrity Big Brother star John Partridge (EastEnders, Cats, A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express) as Billy Flynn, and the UK's very own Soul Queen Mica Paris as Matron 'Mama' Morton.

The international award-winning Broadway and West End musical focuses on murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery.

And though it's great fun, it's one of the toughest shows in the repertoire for performers.

"It's a really hard show to do. Vocally, it's hugely challenging. It's the biggest part I've ever played so I'm really proud. I'm sat here steaming my voice with a ceramic steamer, which most singers seem to have. There's no going out and no parties and late nights with this show. There's a quick gin and tonic after a performance then it's time to steam the voice and eat well. We suffer for our art but it's only a year out of our lives."

Venues across the UK respond very differently to the show. Broadly speaking, the further north Tamaddon travels, the louder people seem to be. And she's glad about that and hopes for a raucous run in Birmingham. "I love it when audiences feel they can laugh and join in and it's wonderful to see people stand up at the end of a show. Doing a lot of telly, nobody stands up at the end of a scene, so I love that.

"It's a great team to work with. John Partridge has been doing this all his life and he's wonderful as Billy Flynn. We've had different Mamas and at the moment we have Mica Paris. She's completely different to the others and is absolutely wonderful. The audiences seem to love her. Her voice is huge."

Tamaddon is, of course, well known for her roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Grease and Mamma Mia! She brought Boogie Nights and Spamalot to the New Alex on previous tours. But it was her winning appearance in ITV's Dancing On Ice that catapulted her into the nation's consciousness and made her a household name. "There's always one thing that you remember your entire life and career and for me Dancing on Ice stands out by a mile. To be taught to skate by Torvill and Dean was incredible and that will never leave me.

"I was left with quite a number of injuries but they were all worth it because I won. To this day, six years on, it's such an achievement in my career and my life. I could do it every day. I never wanted it to end.

"I loved the dance, it was hard, but I loved learning new stuff. I loved being taught a new skill too. As physical and demanding as it was, I had the best life experience ever. My professional dance partner, Daniel, is my best friend. It's crazy we got put together."

But though Tamaddon was thrilled to win, there were aspects of the show she struggled to come to terms with. Suddenly, her public profile soared and like so many actors, she's essentially a shy person at heart.

"The recognition thing is different for different people. I struggle with it quite a lot. When I first got onto Emmerdale 11 years ago I suffered panic attacks a lot of the time and was petrified to go out.

"It's scary when people recognise you, especially when you are on your own. Sometimes it's lovely but other times there's a gang of schoolkids or lads and it's quite intimidating. It's tough to know what to do."

She's learned how to deal with that side of her work over the years, however, and these days is more comfortable. "As you get older you get wiser. I tend to go to the same places where people know me and I feel safe. But when you're on TV, you're in people's living rooms and people think they know you and of course they don't. I try to be kind and nice to everybody. I try and not let anybody down.

"They say it's just part and parcel of the job so I just deal with it the best I can. I'm a great believer in kindness and mindfulness. Everybody is fighting their own battle."

A year on the road has taken Tamaddon away from the small screen. Though she's starred as Del Dingle in ITV's Emmerdale and Andrea Beckett in Corrie, she's enjoyed performing to a live audience each night. Mind you, she'd jump at the chance to be back on the box when the tour's over.

"I could be in a soap forever. I love how quick it is. The pace is so fast. You are filming 14-to-15 scenes a day. In a stage drama, you might work on two per day. Soaps are great. The people you work with become a family. You work together every day of the week. I'd happily go back for both. You are there for each other and back each other all the time."

Touring, however, has been a blast. After years of TV work, she's been delighted to get out on the road.

"I've not toured for a number of years and we've seen wonderful towns and it's been really good fun. I get home most weekends to separate the lives and sleep in my own bed. I'm on a seafront at the moment, it's great."

By Andy Richardson