X factor star Sam Bailey is back on the road and ready to give back

Her beloved Foxes managed a shock 2-0 win that night but it is hard to imagine that even a loss would have dampened the 2013 X Factor winner’s spirits when she is riding on such a wave of enthusiasm.

In the midst of an expansive tour, and fresh off the release of an album made and funded without the help of music guru Simon Cowell and a stint starring as Mamma Morton in hit musical Chicago, Sam is unaffected by the weariness that might hit former talent show contestants a few years into their careers.

In contrast to acts that have seemingly dropped off the radar like Steve Brookstein and Joe McElderry, Sam has boundless amounts of energy and she is keen to point out the reasons for this.

“It’s a great opportunity to be back in Scotland. The whole tour itself is about giving back and not just centred around me. I don’t want to be on stage being this pretentious person who thinks they’re bigger than everyone else.”

Sam, 39, is a very down to earth kind of celebrity, who actively refuses the glitz and glamour that many reality show stars crave. It’s clear that, even on stage, she wants to be portrayed as exactly how she really is. “I don’t want to have to prove that I’m a massive Beyonce-style personality to put on a good show.

“None of the shows end up being the same. Sometimes something ridiculous happens, like my jacket getting caught in my hair, or spilling a whole cup of tea on stage. It’s not scripted at all. I say what I want and end up being a bit of a comedian too.”

One of the ways in which Sam is “giving back” is by letting some unappreciated talent share the limelight with her. Across her 32 nationwide concerts, a different support act will open the show and join Sam onstage. Some are even locally sourced from the towns and cities in which she is playing. On top of this, a portion of the proceeds from the tour will go to raising money for Rainbows Children’s Hospice.

At the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in April, she will be joined by Scottish singer, and fellow X factor finalist, Nicholas McDonald or, as Sam affectionately calls him, “my Nicky Noo Noo.”

Sam beams when discussing this feature of her live show. “It’s entertaining – it’s a variety show almost. It’s not just me singing on my own. Other people get the opportunity to come to the front of the stage. So many people are getting the chance to perform, some of which have never done so before. They’re all worthy of being on a bigger stage, or just need that push to give them the confidence to believe in themselves and their talent.”

Sam comes from a golden age of reality television when shows like the X Factor and The Voice co-existed in harmony and underdogs were given the opportunity to rise to the top. Now, declining ratings, and accusations that certain participants are broadcast to court controversy rather than due to their talent, the survival of such entertainment seems to be under threat.

Sam has her own take on this. “I think there is still an appetite for it because people love controversy. You don’t watch Eastenders and Coronation Street for it to be normal. You want it to be so infuriating that you have to talk about it. It’s the same with the X Factor. It’s still going strong.”

While Sam has moved on from Syco Music, she will always have a relationship with the show that made her famous. She keeps in touch with many of the judges and contestants from the tenth series, and acknowledges that it provided her big break.

However, Sam insists that she really owes her success to her family. “The X Factor changed my life, but keeping that normality is important. You need to have a good support network around you. I couldn’t have done without my family when I went on the show.”

She adds: “The tour is called Sing My Heart Out, because that’s what I do and have done for 20 years. At the end of the set I have a huge screen with footage of my children because that’s what I do it for. I do it for them.”

Sam plays Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on April 7