This is not a business for snowflakery

Musical theatre star and broadcaster Michael Ball talks to HANNAH STEPHENSON about his work ethic and his partnership with Alfie Boe

- HANNAH STEPHENSON

YOU only have to look at Michael Ball's calendar to vaguely understand his monumental work ethic.

This year alone, he's done a solo tour, taken over Radio 2's Sunday Love Songs from the late Steve Wright, is currently appearing in a Les Miserables arena tour, has brought out his latest novel and released Together At Home, a new album with his pal Alfie Boe. Their UK tour, celebrating their 10-year partnership, kicks off in March, before they take it to Australia later in the year.

The momentum of his career never seems to let up and he admits he's hugely pro-active.

"I learned that lesson really early on that if you sit and wait for a phone to ring, it won't. If you go out and make things happen, the phone will ring more. I get ideas and I'm really lucky now that I'm in a place where people will listen to them." At 62, Michael, is still a bundle of energy and any hint that he might retire is met with derision.

"You don't retire, the phone just stops ringing," he says frankly.

"Very few people in our business properly retire, but you become more choosy and you think more about the impact that jobs are going to have on your real life.

His six-week tour of Australia with Alfie Boe next year will be his limit because he'd get homesick, he says.

"I know it looks like I'm constantly working but I'm not, other than doing the radio show which is a couple of hours on a Sunday. I have long periods when I'm at home.