Oh what a night!

It happened, it was brilliant and it's a night I'll never, ever forget. Last night Michelle McManus’ Winter Wonderland came to town at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.

It kick started the 10 day countdown until the big man in red comes shooting down your chimney. Of course I spent the entire day a nervous wreck wondering if I'd done the right thing going it alone this year, abandoning panto and taking on the roll as writer, director, producer and tea maker for this Christmas extravaganza.

We’d been planning it for months with posters plastered all around the city, adverts in the Evening Times and social media posts coming out of our ears on Twitter and Facebook - the moment of truth had finally arrived.

From the first minute the lights went down the audience reaction told me I had absolutely made the right choice and together we went on a Christmas cracker of a journey through my winter wonderland with tales of death by Christmas chilli, the annual work Christmas night out, attempting to seduce Santa and a section I like to call “when Christmas gifts go badly wrong.” Not to mention a non stop sing along of festive favourites which ended with everyone on their feet singing White Christmas as snow came tumbling down from the heavens of the Old Fruitmarket.

None of this could have possibly happened, however, without a few very important people. Firstly to Bruce Devlin, my co-writer and best friend. Without his input the show wouldn't have been half as funny and I wouldn’t have ended up in an elf costume, now there's an image for you.

To Tommy Chambers and Jen Phee who musically directed the show beautifully with the world class Soundsational Choir, who clearly stole the show with their spine tingling performances.

To Greg Anderson, from Blue Parrot, who so generously provided the stage dressing to create the perfect Winter Wonderland and to Steve McKenna and his team who took the show to another level with their incredible effects and audio visuals.

Lastly thank you to each and every person who bought a ticket for last night's show.

On Tuesday December 20 it will be 13 years to the day that my life changed forever when I won Pop Idol. I actually couldn't stop crying last night when it was all over. I was thinking how incredibly lucky I've been all these years and to still be working and doing what I love.

Thank you so much again and I promise Michelle McManus’ Winter Wonderland will be back with a big Christmas bang again next year.

I'm delighted to announce that I'll be hosting the The Mungo Foundation's Christmas Carol Concert at St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow on Tuesday December 20 with the beautiful St Andrew's Cathedral Choir.

The Mungo Foundation is one of the most diverse and highly respected providers of social care and support for vulnerable people in Glasgow, west central Scotland and beyond. They run around 40 different types of projects delivering support to more than 1,500 individuals, their families and communities.

They are an incredible organisation and I'm really honoured to be a part of such a beautiful event for a truly great cause. Tickets are on sale now at £7 per person and £5 concessions. What better way to spend a Tuesday night in December than listening to beautiful Christmas carols sung in the most beautiful surroundings for a wonderful cause. It's the season of joy and good will and it doesn't get better than this. For tickets call 0141 226 1610 or click on the link below. http://www.themungofoundation.org.uk/fundraising/christmas-concert/buy-tickets/

A massive congratulations to my pal Johnny Mac on his debut as Wishee Washee in the SECC panto Aladdin. The reviews for your performance have been five stars across the board and it's nothing short of what you deserve.

I had the pleasure of starring alongside Johnny for three years at the Pavilion Theatre and it was clear to see what a star he was even then. With the incredibly sad passing of the wonderful Gerard Kelly a few years ago, Glasgow has been longing for someone to come along and take up the mantel so to speak.

It looks like the search is now over and it couldn't have gone to a more talented and lovely man. Well done Johnny, you are most certainly enjoying yourself.