Denise Van Outen is heading out on a month-long UK tour this March with An Evening With Denise Van Outen – Songs, Stories and All That Jazz, promising a thoroughly entertaining night of music and chat.

Far from a traditional stage show, Denise describes the evening as a chance for audiences to relax, laugh and get a genuine insight into the world of showbusiness. “I want it to feel like you’re in my living room,” she says. “It’s very up close and personal – lots of fun, lots of laughter and a real look behind the scenes of how TV and theatre are made – from auditions to filming.”

Having worked in the industry since the age of seven, Denise has experienced almost every corner of showbusiness, from television and radio to theatre, film, podcasting and even playwriting. As well as candid stories about what really goes on backstage and how the industry works, there’ll also be a live Q&A element, making each night interactive and unique. Have a question for Denise about her time on The Big Breakfast? Or how they film Gogglebox? Here’s your chance to ask it!

The tour also marks a refreshing change for Denise as a performer. Known for her iconic West End roles in Chicago, Rent, Legally Blonde and Tell Me on a Sunday, this is one of the first times she has stepped onto a theatre stage simply as herself. “I’ve always played characters,” she explains. “This is different – it’s just me, chatting, singing the songs I love and properly connecting with the audience. It feels really freeing.”

Music is at the heart of the evening, with a setlist packed full of familiar favourites. Denise will perform songs from her musical theatre career alongside tracks from her album, which features covers spanning the 80s, 90s, noughties and beyond. “Every song will be one people know,” she says. “I think audiences will really love that.”

Putting the show together meant revisiting her autobiography and reflecting on a career that even surprises her at times. “I realised just how diverse it’s been,” she admits. “And there are so many funny moments along the way – things that went wrong, unexpected situations – I know there’ll be plenty of laughs when people hear some of those stories.”

Although life on the road is familiar thanks to her DJ work, Denise says touring this show around the country feels particularly special. “I love discovering new places and meeting people from different areas,” she says. “We’ve got such a great country and such brilliant audiences, and I can’t wait to share this experience with them.”

Summing up the show, Denise is clear about what people can expect: “It’s a night filled with fun, some fabulous songs and a bit of backstage gossip from the worlds of TV and theatre. It’s definitely one not to be missed – I can’t wait to share it.”