CLEAR the decks…! Opera babe Katherine Jenkins is coming our way with a new album, Believe, out on October 26 and a full UK tour that brings her to the BIC on March 9 next year.

The album release coincides with a unique collaboration with legendary remixers Almighty to disco pump the Welsh mezzo soprano’s cover of Evanescence's epic hit, Bring Me To Life.

Dance wizards Almighty, who have produced mixes for the likes of Cher, Pink, Girls Aloud, Whitney Houston and Sugababes, have injected a fast-paced euphoric flavour to the string-driven track which is being made available on iTunes.

And the BIC concert will also feature special guests, electronic string quartet Escala.

See Katherine Jenkins' photo shoot below

“I’m really looking forward to these shows as it’s my first solo arena tour,” she says.

The new record finds Katherine tackling popular songs and original compositions working with mainstream producer David Foster whose previous successes include Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand.

“We’ve taken well known songs and worked them into a classical style,” says Katherine.

“And there are songs from genres that my audience wouldn’t normally associate with me.”

So, how radical has Katherine gone? Is, for instance, Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit on there?

“No, that one’s not on there,”

she says, politely.“My mum is usually my benchmark and if she likes the songs then I know I’m on to a winner – and she loves this album.”

The world’s most successful classical crossover artist, Katherine has over the last six years all but redefined the genre. She’s earned the title the New Forces Sweetheart after working with Dame Vera Lynn and subsequently making trip to Iraq to sing for the troops.

Whether it be taking to the stage with Darcey Bussell in the massively successful coheadlining arena shows Viva La Diva, performing Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose; or giving Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah a classical twist, Jenkins is one of most forward thinking, creative and progressive artists of her generation.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to play those shows with my friend Darcey, that was such a fantastic experience,” she says.

“In terms of how if feels to play arena compared to smaller shows – and sometimes I still play private shows where there’s only 20 or so people in the room – I don’t feel any different about them.What did shock me though was that the applause takes longer to hit you in an arena.

“The first time I appeared with Darcey,we finished a song and there was a brief silence before you get the applause and I was like:‘Oh my God, they’re not going to applaud!’ “But what I did learn from those shows is that everything has to be bigger and better in an arena, so for this tour we’ll have an orchestra that incorporates a band and a perfect setting and the right costumes.

“David Foster is known for making records that translate very well into live settings in large venues so when I was making this record I was already thinking about how the songs will work in arenas.”

Like it or not, Katherine is a modern mass media target and she’s had her run-ins with the press.

Her drug taking as a student was widely reported last year, as has been her relationship with television presenter Gethin Jones.

The day before we spoke the papers had been full of pictures of Katherine’s new platinum blonde hairdo after she was photographed with her mum at Wimbledon.

“Everyone’s been on about that!” she laughs.

“The funny thing is I haven’t had anything at all done to my hair. I colour my hair like a lot of people do, all that’s happened is that I’ve been out in the sun in LA where we made the record so maybe it has been sun bleached.The next thing I know everyone’s talking about a new hairdo.

“But what’s even funnier is that it’s not my mum in the photo – she was sat the other side of me. Mum was gutted not to be in the picture!”

Given that Katherine works hard to keep her private life private, maybe that was a blessing, I suggest.

“I guess so.You know there are certain things which are private that should remain so and my family may not have asked for the publicity which goes with my career so it’s not fair on them.

“But when I spoke about the drugs I did so because I believe honesty is the best policy.

“And, you know what, not one person came up to me and said anything negative – it was a very positive experience all round. People are very forgiving.

“A lot of them said things like:‘Well, you’re only human and we all do stupid things when we’re young.’ So I’ve no regrets about talking about it at all.”