FORMER X-Factor winner Joe McElderry is looking forward to an intimate performance this month at the High Barn in Great Bardfield.

The 22-year-old was catapulted to fame three-and-a-half years ago by winning the show, beating Witham’s very own Olly Murs in the final.

Although his career has not been entirely smooth sailing since then, Joe is delighted to be back to playing live shows as part of his summer tour.

He said: “I did a few shows in America and we are doing the first of the summer shows now – we are out on the road lots. “Being out there is the favourite part of my job.

“It’s great doing live TV and all different things like that, that’s the beauty of my job, but there is nothing better than being on stage with my band.

“You feel free because everyone is there to see you and you have that connection, that is when you feel relaxed.”

South Shields born Joe experienced chart success after his X-Factor win in 2009.

Debut single the Climb reached number one in its second week of release, after being denied the Christmas number one spot by an internet campaign to get Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name in the top slot.

Despite his first album Wide Awake reaching number three in the charts, Joe parted company with Simon Cowell’s Syco label less than 18 months after winning The X-Factor.

He said: “At the time I was thinking, ‘oh my god’, but I kept working on things like the Popstar to Operastar TV show. “I would say it is all about getting experience in the industry.

“I did the X-Factor tour and my first album and I learned all about how to record music.”

Joe believes his experience with Syco put him in the best possible position when he later signed a record deal with Universal.

He said: “I sat back and watched and took note of everything, so when I signed with Universal I was more strict with myself and the label, in a creative way, not a diva-ish way.

“If you look at the biggest artists in the world most of them have been dropped four or fives times. It makes you better and stronger. I was allowed to go off and decide my own path so it was actually one of the best things which could have happened.”

Joe comes to the High Barn on Saturday, July 20, for a show he says will be “stripped back”.

“I have been there and seen it and I am so excited.

“It is such a beautiful venue and it is lovely being able to play such an intimate show where you can actually see people’s faces in the audience.

“Sometimes you can only see the first two rows of people when you do shows.”

Joe is now in the early writing stages for his next album, and will test out some of his new material this summer.

“I have got a new song in the set nobody has ever heard before which I wrote two months ago.

“People will be hearing new material. I get bored very easily so I am always up for putting new stuff in, whether it is a cover or my own songs.”

Tickets for Joe McElderry’s show at the High Barn are £30 each. Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information, visit high-barn.com