HE may be one of the world’s greatest operatic tenors but Alfie Boe has a confession to make.

“I’ve always wanted to be a rock star,” he laughed. “The problem is I can only use the voice I’ve got.”

Thankfully for him that voice has served him pretty well since he first started to entertain his workmates at the TVR car plant in Blackpool.

Alfie Boe’s rise is the stuff dreams are made of. Born in Fleetwood to a musical family, he admits he only started with the local amateur dramatic group “to get near to the girls”.

A customer who heard him singing on the factory floor while he polishing cars suggested he should go to London to audition for the world-famous D’Oyly Carte opera company and the rest, as they say, is history.

This year looks like being one of the most memorable of his career so far.

At the end of June he takes on the iconic role of Jean Valjean for a five-month run in Les Miserables along side Little Britain’s Matt Lucas, followed by his own headline tour of the UK.

“There is so much happening I don’t really know where to start,” said the singer, who has remained remarkably down-to-earth in spite of his worldwide acclaim.

“I was so honoured to sing in Les Mis for the 25th anniversary concert at the O2 Arena in London last year and then the opportunity to take a up a major role came up.

“I’ve been based in London since my college days so it will be nice to be able to spend some time with my wife and young daughter.

"So often I’m travelling from one show to another and I really miss them.”

Les Miserables, based on a novel by Victor Hugo, has become one world’s most popular stage musicals.

“With a show that’s been running for so long I didn’t want to go into it and just carry on with the role as it’s been done previously.

"I want to find a new element to the role as there should always be room for creativity.

“I’ve got to say that the cast were so friendly with me when I did the O2 show, I can’t wait to get started.”

As if five months of doing eight shows a week wasn’t demanding enough, Alfie will have just 10 days off before he starts his Bring Him Home tour around the UK.

“There is so much to think of for that show,” said Alfie.

“I really want to make it something different and break down the barriers between the singer and the audience.

"I don’t just want to stand there and sing. I think it’s important to engage people with the whole production.”

And Alfie promises that there might be a few surprises along the way.

“It’s my chance to release my inner rock star,” he said.

“I’d love to do some kind of tribute to Queen’s Freddie Mercury or Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin.

"Their music has a very classical structure if you analyse it so it’s not as daft as you might think.”

The tour will see Alfie playing several dates close to home and he’s hoping to see a few familiar faces in the audience.

“I’m really looking forward to playing to a home crowd again,” he said.

“If I spot someone from the factory or from when I was growing up I always try to catch up with them afterwards.”

* Alfie Boe plays Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Wednesday, December 13; Blackpool Opera House on Saturday, December 17; Manchester Bridgewater Hall on Friday, January 27 and Preston Guild Hall, Friday, February 3.