RUSSELL Watson reckons he's back to his best - after being told he'd never hit the highs again.

The classical singer brings a Christmas themed show to Glasgow Cathedral tonight, promising a selection of festive favourites along with material from the musicals.

However, this tour comes after the Salford native started to doubt that his voice would ever get back to the level it was before he suffered health problems, including two tumours in his skull.

"I read a newspaper article saying something like 'Watson will never be the same as he was' and I went to see my voice coach, Patrick McGuigan," recalls the tenor.

"He's 80, and has been my vocal mentor for 10 years. I'd just finished the last UK tour, and I felt I hadn't delivered my best, and I was on a downer.

"He said 'the thing is, when you're at a certain age and been through a lot of stuff, it's very difficult to get back to where you want to be.

"You'll need to change the key of a few songs and drop the big ones and you'll need to recognise you won't be as good as you were 10 years ago.'

"I walked out thinking 'I'll show you!' And I did."

Now the 47-year-old feels his voice is as good as it's been in years, as he gets ready to celebrate 15 years in the music business next year.

He's in good spirits when we chat, talking about how much he's looking forward to the England/Scotland game that night, although his fears of an England defeat were unfounded.

Having recovered from his health problems, he believes it was his determination that helped him along the way.

"That's why I came back from having two big lumps in my skull, too," he adds.

"It wasn't in my hands what happened to me then, and whether I survived or not.

"That was in the hands of the surgeon.

"But what happened after I came off the table, that was down to me. That was down to drive and stubbornness."

In the past Russell's visits to Glasgow have seen him perform in venues such as the SECC and Royal Concert Hall.

For this stripped back Christmas tour though, he's doing things differently, performing with just piano and a choir, set to candlelight.

He feels the setting of a cathedral should suit the show that's planned, too.

"I've never been to the Cathedral before, but I've been told it's awe-inspiring," he says.

"When I was a kid, and a naughty boy, I'd walk into somewhere like a library where you knew you had to be quiet, and I always wanted to be noisy.

"It's the same with a cathedral - every time I walk through the doors I just want to sing, so I'm looking forward to it."

Now that his two children are getting older the singer admits he doesn't feel as full of Christmas cheer as in years past.

However, he's not a Scrooge by any means, and will be taking time to reflect on things as winter sets in.

"When the kids are young there's a magic about Christmas with Father Christmas and there's an excitement about it when they are going to bed the night before," he says.

ONE'S 20 and one's 14 now though, so the magic has gone out a bit, but I'm not bah humbug about it.

"I find, without going on a downer, it's now a period for reflection.

"It's thinking about friends and family who aren't with you any more, but on the day itself that dissipates and you enjoy yourself. And I'm from Salford, so I do like the cold."

His current tour will be followed by a lengthy run of dates in smaller places next year, before a return to arena dates in 2016.

The tenor reckons it's about keeping things fresh.

"One of the things you have to do in the recording industry is keep tuned to the public's imagination," he says.

"Every now and then, you have to do something different and take a few chances.

"People like Madonna and Prince call it re-invention but I just call it being savvy and making sure the fans don't feel like they are seeing the same show every year."

l Russell Watson, Glasgow Cathedral, tonight, £43-£60, 7pm