THIS time last year Britain’s Got Talent star Paul Burling was beginning another summer season in the holiday parks of South-West England, clocking up 40,000 miles-plus a year and wearing out cars like most of us do shoes.

Not that he was unhappy about it – but it can be hard work on the bottom rung of the showbiz ladder.

“As Simon (Cowell) said on the show, there’s a lot of snobbery about it, but there shouldn’t be, as all sorts of people got into the business in the holiday parks,” says Paul.

“People like Shane Richie, Bradley Walsh and Brian Conley – and it’s a great apprenticeship,” adds the chatty impressionist whose appearance in the final of BGT earned him a place in the nation’s hearts and, crucially, on the Britain’s Got Talent Live tour that comes to Bournemouth International Centre next weekend.

The show has already opened the door to greater things for the likes of Susan Boyle, Paul Potts, George Sampson and last year’s winners Diversity.

So is it dare-to-dream time for Paul?

“I’m not sure about that, I’m not counting on anything.

“All I’m doing is going through the doors that open for me – just as I did all the way up to the show and throughout the show.”

Paul, 41, and his partner Leah, with a couple of his closest friends, wrote all new material for every step of his Britain’s Got Talent adventure – making his achievement all the more remarkable.

“Yeah, cheers. I had to really, as my holiday camp show is a lot more retro.

“I do Rainbow characters, and all the oldies – Frank Spencer, Billy Connolly, Tommy Cooper – whereas I had to be more up to date for telly.

“Harry Hill was perfect as the basis for it, as that’s a huge TV show, up there with Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor. Everyone watches it.

“Mind you, I thought I was taking a risk with Alan Carr, doing Chatty Man.”

Father-of-three Paul even had a stab at Simon Cowell. “Well, you’ve got to live on the edge a bit!

“He didn’t say anything, but I think his ego can take it. I’m still here aren’t I?”

By far his greatest gamble, though, was setting a host of his impressions to a version of The Proclaimers’ hit 500 Miles.

“What happened there was I was going to do Rock Star as Mock Star, but I got this call from the BGT gang to say they couldn’t clear it for copyright.

“I panicked, thought about it, then called them back and asked them to clear 500 Miles, and me and Leah wrote the whole thing in about three-and-a-half hours spread over a couple of days.“As Alex Ferguson would say, it was squeaky bum time!”

And some of his targets have already been on the phone to Paul.

“The funny thing is, a lot more people want to speak to me now than before Britain’s Got Talent!

“It’s lovely though, but it gets a bit surreal. I’ve had Harry Hill call me up to say he liked what I was doing, and Bobby Davro and Matt Lucas too. Alan Carr as well.”

The possibility of a fight-off with the TV Burp star is just one of many awaiting Paul, he hopes.

“I’ve got management provided by Britain’s Got Talent and they’ve been spot on. No doubt they’re doing lots of deals even as we speak.”

Like the one with ITV2 that some of the papers have reported, perhaps?

“I can’t really comment, we’ll have to wait and see. As I said, I’m not banking on anything.

“All I’m doing is looking forward to the tour which is going to be amazing. There’s such good camaraderie between the acts, they’re a great bunch.

“There’s no bitchiness or prima donna behaviour, nobody storming off if they didn’t get their way.

“Mind you I’d have been spitting if I’d stacked that 500 Miles routine!”

• Britain’s Got Talent Live is at the BIC on July 3

About Britain's Got Talent

• Britain’s Got Talent’s peak audience of 19 million for the final was down from the 23 million of last year when the spotlight was on singing sensation Susan Boyle (right).

• Spelbound were declared the winners after the final was held on June 5, with street comedy duo Twist and Pulse coming in second place and 13-year-old drum prodigy Kieran Gaffney in third place.

•Spelbound took home the £100,000 prize and won the chance to appear at the Royal Variety Performance.

• Britain's Got Talent will be back for a fifth series, but Simon Cowell will not be doing the audition stages as he is filming for the American version of The X Factor.

• BGT won the Bafta for Best Entertainment Programme and Performance for presenters Ant and Dec.