AN X Factor and musical theatre star is bringing his debut solo tour to Clacton next month.

Marcus Collins, who was runner-up to girl group Little Mix on the ITV show in 2011, will be performing original tracks from his upcoming album, as well as Motown classics.

The former hairdresser’s life has been turned upside down since he auditioned for X Factor, but it has not been plain sailing for the Liverpool lad.

He says: “I went from a council estate to performing in the Albert Hall. I’d never had so many people around me, so much interest from people, so much money, all these amazing things – a career on the up.

“But I couldn’t feel it. I was numb to it all. I was so tired and away from home constantly.”

Since then, he has found a better work-life balance, appeared as Seaweed Stubbs in Hairspray and has remained in touch with his mentor on X Factor Gary Barlow.

He says: “Gary has really shaped my career to this point. I look up to him so much. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have someone as influential as him on my side giving me advice on my career.

“Every time I record a song, I take it to Gary and he listens to it before I take it to the record label.

“When I was working with him it was his first year doing it. It was my introduction to the industry and it was challenging.

“He said to me, ‘So, what do you want from this? Do you want to win?’ I said ‘I want to do well, I’m really competitive, but I don’t feel I have to win to do that. I just want to come across how I am. I don’t want them to manipulate me and make me into something else’.

“People would say ‘I’m sorry you didn’t win’, but I won in my head – second place was amazing.”

Marcus Collins is at the Princes Theatre on Friday, October 3, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 (£18 concessions) on 01255 686633 or essex-live.co.uk