It's official! Jane McDonald is not a nice person. She says so herself.

The Cruise singer and queen of weekday lunchtime television may be as nice as pie on screen but off it lies a ferocious diva just waiting to get out - or so she says.

"I like Shirley Bassey and the old fashioned divas," admitted the 46-year-old.

"I'm aiming to get more divaish - you should see me when it's not going right, I am not as nice as people think.

"I expect everyone to be a workaholic like me, but they're not.

"I'm quite rock and roll too.

"I like a cuppa but I like my drambui, the elixir of showbusiness, as well - it coats the throat."

Try as she might though it's hard to believe McDonald is anything but a mild-mannerd and charming person.

Since rising to fame as the singer with an extraordinary voice in the 90s fly-on-the-wall documentary following life on board a cruise ship, the Wakefield-born wonder has had a string of successful albums and television appearances.

Her latest tour showcases her newest album, Jane, and she has warned those expecting to come and hear ballad after ballad they are in for a bit of a surprise.

"It's a bit wild," she said.

"People think I only do ballads but there is a big motown section, some disco and I interact with the audience a lot, there's a lot of laughs.

"The show would be fantastic without me in it, the brass section are superb.

"I have some wonderful outfits too.

"I like bright colours and the glitz, I look like a mirror ball."

For those of you also expecting her audiences to be made up of old grannies, then you would be in for a surprise there too...

"It's weird I have every age group coming," she said.

"There are lots of teenage girls all of a sudden and I have a big gay following too, I don't know why, whereas the older end are people who like to come listen to a singer.

"My fans are very loyal though and if I knew why I would sell it!"

Jane McDonald, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, April 25, 7.30pm. Call 0870 060 6646 or visit ambassadortickets.com.