Just A Quickie with...Irish singer Ronan Keating, who plays York Barbican on Wednesday on the Boyzone frontman's solo tour.

RONAN Keating's Time Of My Life Tour became the Extra Time Of My Life tour when he added more September shows, including York Barbican on Wednesday.

That night, in his first North Yorkshire concert since Boyzone played Scarborough Open Air Theatre in June 2015, he will be combining a multitude of hits from his 22-year career with selections from his tenth studio album, Time Of My Life, released last February as the first fruits of his "genuinely contented place in life and love".

Keating has sold 40 million albums with Boyzone and 22 million copies of his solo records, while notching 14 number one singles and an Ivor Novello Award for Picture Of You in 1997. Now, he is making the music he has always wanted to make.

"This is who I am and it feels absolutely right. To go out with all this new material, and playing guitar, will be so exciting. These songs were written for live performance," says Keating, as York beckons.

Charles Hutchinson pops the questions to the 39-year-old Dubliner.

Why did you call this year's album Time Of My Life, Ronan?

"It feels very much the time of my life for want of a better word. I feel I'm in my prime and I'm really enjoying knowing who I am, being comfortable in my skin and knowing what I'm capable of. It's only now that I feel really confident as a musician after being pushed from pillar to post earlier in my career."

What has contributed to that comfort and confidence?

"Doing four months in the West End, doing 145 shows in the musical Once, I learnt so much from that show, even playing guitar was OK. Before that I wrote songs on the guitar, but I wouldn't have been comfortable playing it live on stage. Now I am."

How did the chance to perform in Once come about?

"Barbara Broccoli, the producer, asked me, 'Would you be interested in doing it?'. I fell in love with it, but to be truthful I didn't think I could do it. I just doubted myself, but my wife said I could do it and it was her belief in me that made me think, 'I can do this'."

How did you feel on the opening night at the Phoenix Theatre?

"I can't tell you how scary it was! My hands were slipping off the guitar, but my god, what an energising feeling it was. I took the bull by the horns and off I went. Every night I felt like I was creating something as theatre is such a different beast."

Where did doing Once lead you?

"It took me down the line of making a more acoustic album. For the songwriting, I kind of sat in the kitchen with my co-writer Dan Healy, who was in the show with me, and we'd start writing things and jamming in the back rooms of the theatre. Then my wife started harmonising on the tracks and out came these wonderful songs.

"There was also a huge sense of taking control, that I could do this record on my own, or write with other people, and that was very empowering for me."

In what way was it liberating for you?

"The songs poured out of me, coming from lots of different places, wearing my heart on my sleeve. Now I want to talk about them and play them live in the organic style we wrote them in the kitchen."

Who will perform with you at York Barbican?

"We have an eight-piece band for this tour, so there's a big sound!"

Finally, Ronan, might you do another musical?

"I've been offered a couple of things but I've turned them down for now, though if the right thing comes along...but it was Once that inspired me. It's more of a play with music than a musical, which made it so unique."

Ronan Keating plays York Barbican on Wednesday, supported by Metaxas, 7.30pm. Tickets: £39.20 on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk, in person from the Barbican box office or on the door from 6.30pm.