Star of Chicago, X-Factor's Sam Bailey - "I do not think I would have done this if I could not see my children".

But now after parting ways with Simon Cowell’s record label last year the 38-year-old mother of three is tackling a new challenge – her first ever musical.

Henry Holloway talks to the singer about life on the road as she stars as Mama Morton in the touring production of Chicago.

The Guide: You are best known as a singer of ballads and a concert artists, what was it like to transfer over to the musical stage?

Sam Bailey: I do feel it is a little bit harder because you are playing a character. So many people just know me as Sam Bailey from the X Factor and on stage I need to make them forget. The singing is the easy part, its the acting which is the challenge. I went to performing arts college but it was one of those courses where you essentially just had to turn up. I focused on the music side more than anything and did not really do any acting. I have never done anything professionally like this before.

So this is your first touring musical, how have things been going?

It is great. I am doing some lunges here and there but I don’t have to do as much dancing as everyone else, thankfully. I am working with so many special people with so much experience in the West End and I have the upmost respect for them. They have all taught me so much over the last few months and I am eternally grateful to them.

When you got the call saying you got the part, did you have any nerves at all?

I walked into the first day of rehearsals and I had that feeling of just ‘oh god I need to go, I cannot do this’. I had a five minute breakdown where I just thought I could not do it and that I needed to fake an illness. But then the other side of my head was just going ‘come on Sam, you can do this’. I thought the first day would pretty much just be a meet and greet with a cup of tea and a slice of cake and then they told us they were ready for scene one.

Looking back on the X Factor, how was that experience and do you have any regrets?

No regrets whatsoever, never bite the hand that feeds you. If I did not get on that show in the first place and did not get the exposure then I would not be where I am now and I would not be doing Chicago that is for sure. I am very appreciative and I love watching the show. It is a nice reminder. It was tough with being away from the kids and the amount of work involved but it was worth every single day. 

Is doing musicals something you have aspired to do for sometime?

It has always been on my bucket list, there are so many parts and roles I would love to get my teeth into, so now I know I can do this it is something I want to keep doing and reach those goals. It is also about longevity, I am not stupid, the music business is very cut-throat, it is hard to have that consistency unless you are someone like Beyoncé, but I am clearly not Beyoncé. I still want to be earning for my family and working for years to come.

What are some of your bucket list parts?

Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, and I would like to play Mrs Johnson in Blood Brothers - the list is endless.

Chicago is one of the most popular musicals of all time, do you recall when you were introduced to it?

I went to see the show in 2012 and I just loved it then. It is so different from any other musical. Everything is so bang on, the story itself is dark but it is also funny and raunchy. If someone had said to me when I went to see it in the West End ‘in a few years you will be playing Mama Morton’ I would have said ‘oh, sod off’.

What are you trying to bring to the character of Mama Morton?

She is a businesswoman, the keeper of the keys, she looks after all the girls in the prison, she knows how to work people and get what she wants, and she is very well respected. But she does have a heart behind the thick exterior and there are so many different sides to her. She is just a great role to play. Everyone loves Chicago and everyone loves my character, so playing this role I just could not be happier.

What are some of your favourite songs from the show?

I love the Cell Block Tango, the third song in. It is just incredible and sets the scene for the whole show. It is amazing. When the show starts and Velma Kelly comes up the lift with the lights on here that is such an iconic moment people will know from the film and the show. I get butterflies when I see that. I am always watching from the wings to see what the audience reaction is. I love my song as well but if I could do any other number it would be that one.

Is being away from your family on tour quite difficult?

It is tough going. I have the kids with me at the moment as it is half term and as we speak they are having a look around the media museum in Bradford. I am trying to see them as much as I can before they go back to school. I get Sundays off and go home and I all I can say is thank god for Facetime. I get to see my kids everyday thanks to that lovely piece of technology. Literally my husband just puts the phone on the side in the kitchen and I just talk to them as if I am there while I am doing this, that and the other. I do not think I would have done this if I could not see my children.

Have your kids seen the show?

My eldest has been to see it and she absolutely loves it, my son has asked if he can come and see it but I have told him no. He is only six and I do not think he would appreciate girls in hardly any clothes, he would probably be covering his eyes going ‘it is disgusting’. It is not really for younger kids.

Any tour highlights so far?

We had a wonderful show last week where we had a guy who has been doing sign language at the side of the stage. That was fascinating to watch, he was doing it to the beat of the music and getting his hips involved. At the end when we ask him to take a bow everyone in the audience who is deaf stands up and waves. It got quite emotional and I found it so nice can do that . I have a friend who is sadly deaf and they are coming along to watch the show next time we have the signer.

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