"A tour for me would not be complete if I didn't go on to play Glasgow," could be the greatest compliment Alfie Boe gives his Scottish fans.

The much-loved tenor will return to the city's Royal Concert Hall on Friday, March 22 and it is a visit he is very much looking forward to, especially with the memories it conjures.

"Glasgow is a wonderful place, I love Scotland so much," he beamed.

He continued with explanation: "My first professional job after leaving college was in Scotland. I was on the road in Scotland for six months in the back of a transit van, travelling the Highlands and Islands, doing opera galas and performances.

"I went from playing for a 200-seater theatre to a village hall in the middle of the hillside.

"It was beautiful but I learnt so much from the audiences.

"Whenever I go back, I always feel like I am playing to family, and it makes it so very special."

The new show will no doubt be special anyway for music fans as it coincides with the release of Alfie's new album As Time Goes By, which celebrates the golden era of music from the 30s and 40s.

"This music is beautiful and sentimental. It is emotional, it touches all the heart strings,"explained a passionate Alfie.

He continued: "When you listen to an emotional song from the golden era, when you listen to those songs - you are listening to a piece of history. You are listening to an anthem of nation. You are listening to an anthem of region or a town or a village.

"This music grew out of a lot of rebellion and wildness, risk taking and experimentation. The golden era was wild, it was an amazing time for music because it gave birth to the music industry. It gave birth to record labels, recording artists, radio stations and music tabloids, things that have survived through until today's musical world. This music industry wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for that time period."

Blackpool-born Alfie wants to translate the feeling of that period into his new shows next year - by challenging the audience to embrace the golden era.

He said: "I want to try and transport the audience back in time to the 1930s.

"I really really want to take them to a Speakeasy, and give them the experience and enrich them with this style."

He added: "Bring back a little bit of 1930s rebellion, I would like them to come to the show and be wild.

"I would like them to have a good time. To get dressed up in that style if they want to and turn up in costume if they are inclined to.

"I want it to be a theatrical experience and on top of that they are listening to some of the world’s greatest musicians on stage with me.

"I have the wildest band. They are dynamic, and it is going to be an incredible show."

There is no doubt the performance will be anything other than incredible with Alfie's reputation as the greatest showman. His work in musical theatre including his interpretation of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables have impressed audiences and propelled Boe as a serious actor - and it would appear acting is something himself he wants to explore more of, especially after his role in Mr Selfridge as Richard Chapman.

He said: "I am very happy with where I am at the moment, I really am.

"I would love to tackle a little bit more television and film. I would love to be able to try that out again

"I loved my time on Mr Selfridge, that was a lot of fun. I would love to try it out again I really would if there was an opportunity there. That is something I am working on."

Alfie, however, will still be pursuing what he does best, acting-wise, with a promise of more roles in musical theatre.

He teased: "I am focused mainly on the tour and my album at the minute.

"There is talk of a couple of musicals but I can't say too much really."

He laughed: "I have got to keep it under my belt."

Catch Alfie Boe at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall on Friday, March 22.

For more information, visit Alfie-boe.com.