REMEMBER Steve Brookstein, the former cab driver who won TV's X-Factor then seemed to sink without a trace? Well he's back and coming to Blackburn on October 28. We spoke to him.

IDIDN'T quite know what to expect before interviewing Steve Brookstein.

Would he be touchy about his negative media image?

Would he throw a strop if I tried to talk about Simon Cowell?

I needn't have worried because, without much prompting at all, he soon launched into his side of the story.

"There was a lot of negative press about me because it wasn't toeing the party line," he said.

"It was portrayed like I threw my toys out of my pram, but I'm a 38-year-old man and I didn't want to be Simon Cowell's puppet."

After the release of his debut album, Heart & Soul, things seemed to go downhill for Steve.

The album took five months to be released, making it too late to cash in on the success of his first single, and his label insisted it was made up exclusively of cover versions.

Although it went straight in at number one, sales were lower than expected and he had yet to record a song that was his own.

The media seemed to turn on him and in February 2006, the album won the Naomi Award for Worst British Album.

Steve accepted the award with his trademark, self-effacing good humour and it now has pride of place in his downstairs toilet.

But after his label insisted on a second album of covers, Steve stood firm and they parted company.

"I felt isolated and unrepresented," he said.

"I was told not to worry, but I was worried. I enquired why I wasn't writing for my new album.

"The year was slipping by with no tour, no promotion and nothing but bad press.

"I knew I had a good fan base but was being publicly humiliated as merely a covers artist.

"I badly wanted to record my own songs. I was willing to compromise but it wasn't considered."

Now he's started again and this time he's doing it his own way and funding it all himself.

I bet he's regretting donating all the proceeds of his debut single, a cover of Against All Odds, to the Thailand Tsunami Disaster Fund.

"Hmm, it definitely would have helped me a lot," Steve admitted.

"After I made the decision to donate the proceeds Simon said Don't worry, we'll look after you'.

"Twelve weeks later my album comes out and he's saying to me: Do another album of covers or you're dropped'."

But, unlike many other former reality TV contestants, Steve's not bitter.

"I have said in the past that The X Factor is a cheesy show and that it let me down.

"It took me a long time but I now realise nothing is personal on The X Factor," he said.

"To Simon, Sharon and Louis it's just business. They're looking after their business interests.

"But I'm looking after mine too and I couldn't do an album of covers.

"The X Factor isn't about feeling sorry for yourself.

"It's about being aware that you're being used and using the show to your own advantage.

"It's great experience and exposure for the artists."

So what does he want to achieve with his new album?

"Nothing would please me more than getting to the age of 65 and still having a song played on Capital Gold.

"Imagine how Burt Bacharach feels. That timelessness is what every true artist wants.

"I don't know why people seek fame - I'm not in it for the fame."

And he's feeling positive about the future. "I got six million people voting for me.

"If just some of these people come to my gigs I can show them my music and I've got a real chance to make it work.

"This next year is going to be a hard slog. I have a lot of respect for Simon Cowell.

"I just wish he would have respected me as an artist and writer too.

"I could have made Simon a lot of money. He should have trusted me.

"I'm not expecting miracles. We haven't had the budget I had with The X Factor.

"We haven't had the exposure and I've been slagged off in the press for a year but it's a great album.

"I know I've made the right choice for the long term."

And is he watching this year's X Factor?

"Erm... I have got to be honest. I've really got into How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? on BBC1.

"And anyway, Eileen's not too keen on Sharon.

"None of my family will watch The X Factor ever again."

Steve Brookstein plays King George's Hall in Blackburn on Saturday, October 28. Tickets are on sale now. Call box office on 01254 582582.