POOR Tony Christie. Having spent the last 15 years living in Spain, he has just returned to the UK - and has caught a cold almost immediately.

"It's brilliant to be back, but the weather's not great! It's the change in climate for me - living in Spain, my blood's gone very thin. Suddenly, I'm freezing and people are saying 'What's the matter with you?'"

For more than 30 years, Tony (pictured) has been entertaining with hits including Just The Two Of Us, Don't Go Down To Reno and Is This The Way To Amarillo?

He had his own television series on the BBC in the mid-'70s and sang on the original concept album of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita.

But, believe it or not, serious stage fright nearly prevented him from ever getting up there.

"I overcame it by singing in choirs, so that I was anonymous, among a load of people," he explains.

"Then I graduated to a double act with my mate from school. We used to go around the clubs and, eventually, I got more confident and could get over my terror. It was awful though.

"It doesn't bother me now. When I watch performers on stage, the young kids today on the TV, they have absolutely no fear whatsoever. They seem to be natural born show-offs who've got lots of face and front, but often no talent.

"My little grandson, who's in the Litchfield Cathedral Choir, is only nine and he stands up in church in front of hundreds of people".

But, as Tony explains, his family background perhaps made him taking the path to a musical career a little inevitable.

"I was born in South Yorkshire, but my grandparents had come over from Ireland and I think that's where I got my musical talent from.

"My grandmother played the fiddle, my grandfather played the squeezebox, and my father played the piano.

"Everyone in my family seemed to sing - it was always around me and it was always sort of natural. I thought everyone could sing and play.

"The only resistance to my career came from my dad, as he was an accountant and he wanted me to follow him. He made me study for that when I left school, but my heart was set on singing and I was looking for the first opportunity so I could leave my day job and go on the road.

"It happened when I was about 18 and I was offered a job with a professional group. Any-thing to get away."

And now, 30 years on, it's happening all over again in a sense, as Tony is slowly, but surely, sneaking back into the spotlight.

He has just recorded the theme tune to Peter Kay's new series Max and Paddy's Road To Nowhere, on Channel 4.

He's also about to re-release Amarillo as a Christmas single and also has a new album due for release in February next year.

Not only that, but, last month, Jonathan Ross was heard to say on Radio 2: "I can't believe there are people who haven't been Tony Christie fans all their lives... Elvis, Dean Martin... Tony Christie... listen to these guys."

That must be flattering, to say the least?

"It's staggering because I've been away for so long. I've been living in Spain and doing most of my work around the world because of a lack of interest in me in the UK.

"But I'm singing better now than I ever have. And my old numbers are great songs.

"I'm not one of those singers who's going to say they're clashing with their art and refuse to perform them.

"I've a complete new audience, apart from my old faithfuls. There are young people, 30-year-olds sitting there, and it's fantastic.

"The reaction to the show amazes me too, particularly that of the older fans. They say 'My God, we only came for the nostalgia. We didn't think you could sing any more!'"

Tony Christie will be at The Anvil this Sunday, from 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £15 and £16.50, are available from The Anvil box office on 01256 844244, the website www.theanvil.org.uk or the ticket fax 01256 366900.