FULHAM rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Example sold out arenas all over Britain on his last two tours, but this autumn he is keen to be up close and personal at smaller venues.

What’s more, he chose each town and city he will visit for his 27 shows, such as York Barbican on October 23, Leeds O2 Academy on October 25 and Hull City Hall on November 23.

“We could go back and do arenas, but I thought rather than do that, let’s put the effort in and do a proper old school tour,” says Example, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, as in EG, hence Example.

“I think there are about ten venues I’ve never played before; bearing in mind I’ve been touring since 2004 and have done probably 2,000 shows. It’s going to be pretty exciting. It’s all about hitting up every part of the country.”

Example will take his two-month trek in his stride.

“I’m always flying from one place to another. In July I did 23 gigs in 30 days and took 27 flights. If I get two months off, which is very rare, I’ll get in and rehearse with the band, but in general I like to keep fit, because 90 minutes on stage four or five times a week, you have to be fit for that.

“That’s why I do vocal warm-ups and stretches, because I injured myself a few years ago and had to cancel a load of gigs.” In September 2012 he tore his Achilles tendon and on doctor’s orders was forced to rest, wearing a brace on his lower leg and foot and applying ice packs six times a day for two weeks.

Not only does he take his fitness seriously at the age of 32, to be fit for the tour, but also he reveals that all-night drinking sessions and crazy partying for Example and his band will not be on the agenda.

“We don’t really get too drunk, but we might open a bottle of whisky and have a sip each. We call it ‘band prayer’, but we don’t do anything outlandish or outrageous these days.”

He promises he will not bombard fans with obscure songs and new material.

Instead, Example will be singing all his hits. Songs such as the two Top Ten singles from his second studio album, Won’t Go Quietly, the title track and Kickstarts; his two number ones, Changed The Way You Kiss Me and Stay Awake; and his chart hits from July’s album, Live Life Living, namely All The Wrong Places,Kids Again and One More Day (Stay with Me). Latest single 10 Million People was released last week.

“I think the key thing for people to remember is: I’m not the sort of artist who’s just going to play the whole of a new album,” he says.

“You’ve got to play for the fans. You meet a lot of bands and they do weird shows where they’re doing a B-side no one’s ever heard. I think, play all the hits, five or six songs off the new album, and give people what they want. People paying to see a gig don’t want to hear some weird cover of something or a track released seven years ago that no one bought.”

Example will be backed by his full band in a “spectacular, all singing and all dancing 90-minute show with lasers, flames and lots of lighting effects”.

“Actually, I don’t know about the dancing,” he says, on second thoughts. “I’m quite bouncy, but I don’t know if that’s dancing.”

For Example, everything started one night 20 years ago, when a 12-year-old Elliot Gleave was challenged to a rap battle at a house party in London by an older boy, and the younger lad won hands down. He went on to study film directing and started his working life in the props department on film sets in Australia where his family live, while at night he made a name for himself as a garage MC.

A decade later, The Streets’ Mike Skinner signed Example to his label, and his mainstream breakthrough came with his second album, 2010’s Won’t Go Quietly.

This year’s Live Life Living has given him his fifth Top Ten album, this one dedicated to his wife, Australian model and former Neighbours actress Erin McNaught, now Erin Gleave. The album title comes from a lyric about the love of his life, where he muses: “I don’t want to live life living without you. It’s quite a romantic album, all about the missus,” he says. “There’s about five or six tracks which are obviously about Erin and about being all loved up.”

On July 23, Erin announced on Twitter that the couple were expecting their first child, news that has changed Example’s outlook.

“The only thing that keeps me going now really is the thrill of being on stage,” he says. “If I’m totally honest, I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I would. I’m still ambitious, but I think I’ve adjusted my goals purely because I’m married now and I’ve got a kid on the way.”

One other change has taken effect already. On Live Life Living, Example has largely cut the rap, rapping on only five verses.

“I don’t really see myself as a rapper. I haven’t done for three or four years now,” he says. “It doesn’t do justice to all my peers, who are great rappers who make hip hop albums. I’m an electronic artist, a singer and I’ve done a lot of production on this album.”

* Example plays York Barbican on October 23; doors open at 6.30pm; box office, 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk. Also Leeds 02 Academy, October 25; Hull City Hall, November 23.

- Simon Redley and Charles Hutchinson