Ray Of Sunshine

He said: "I'm still competitive; I'm still going to want to be the best. I still want to win. It's just about enjoying it though and having fun."

The Liverpudlian star, who let his show-stopping smile slip during training for the TV show, is adamant the pressure will not get to him this time.

Quinn said: "I don't let any stress into my head. I hate that word, stress. I'm quite a perfectionist. When it came to the moves I just wanted to do them justice. I'd let it really get to me. I really did like being perfect. I was more nervous about staying in than the actual performance."

Quinn first came to the public's attention in 2000 as Brookside's Anthony Murray, a devout Catholic school boy accused of murdering his classroom bully.

The role earned him numerous accolades including the British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance.

But just when we thought he had peaked in his teens, Quinn resurfaced three years after his departure from the soap, showcasing another talent as an X Factor contestant.

The show has a reputation for ending as many careers as it launches but that did not deter him.

Quinn said: "I knew the risks I was taking. You want to be known for who you are.
"There's always a danger people will know you as that guy from X Factor, and they do say that sometimes, but it doesn't bother me."

The gamble paid off and he made it to the final two, just pipped at the post by Leona Lewis. Quinn said he, "couldn't have been beaten by a better person".

Sony BMG snapped him up and his debut album Ray Quinn: Doing It My Way hit the UK charts at the number one spot. Leaping from solo singing success to the West End, he secured the lead role of Danny Zuko in West End hit Grease.

Now he's looking forward to the challenges Dancing On Ice The Live Tour presents.

He said: "I have a new partner and new boots so we'll have to wait and see. I'm not skating with Maria, I'm with Alexandra this time. I was very rusty, definitely, but it's great to be doing it again.

"I don't know what motivates me. I've got a lot of drive, dreams and ambitions.
"When I put my mind to something I have to do it. I want to know the results so I keep going."

As for future projects, Quinn is giving nothing away at the moment but a return to the small screen is not out of the question.

He said: "I'm just holding on to what I've got for now. I've got projects coming up but I can't really talk about it. It could be TV, it could be West End."

Ray Quinn will be taking part in Dancing On Ice the Live Tour at The O2 arena on April 17-20.
Go to theo2.co.uk.