Name: Michael Ball

Occupation: Star of West End and Broadway musicals, solo tours, outdoor concerts and, er, Eurovision Song Contest. Once voted the most 'bankable' name in musical theatre by Society of West End Managers

Born: 1962

Education: Guildford School of Acting

Professional theatre debut: Judas and John the Baptist, Godspell, Aberystwyth

Professional breakthrough: Spotted by Cameron Mackintosh playing Frederic in The Pirates Of Penzance, Manchester Opera House; offered role of Marius in Royal Shakespeare Company's Les Miserables in London

Rising star on Lloyd Webber ladder: Starred as Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera, in Hal Prince's London production; performed in Trevor Nunn's West End production of Aspects Of Love, subsequently reviving role on Broadway

First hit single: Love Changes Everything, number two, 1989

European man: Represented Great Britain in Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, singing One Step Out Of Time to television audience of 600 million. Finished second behind Ireland's Johnny Logan. Debut solo album entered charts at number one; he has since chalked up 11 gold and platinum albums and ten UK tours

First TV series: Six episodes of Michael Ball show for Carlton in 1993; second series in 1994

Film: Played Henry Purcell in Tony Palmer's England, My England, premiered on Channel 4, 1995

Soap cameo: Made guest appearance on Coronation Street's 35th birthday TV special, 1995

On the BBC: Hosting Radio Two series Ball Over Broadway

For Queen and country: Headlined Royal Variety Performance, on occasion of The Queen's Golden Wedding Anniversary

Latest West End role: Eccentric Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2002

New album: A Love Story...The Soundtrack To A Love Affair, released this month on EMI Liberty. Inspired by his 2001 one-man show at Donmar Warehouse, Alone Together, the album records, in song, story of a relationship from beginning to end. Among those songs are Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello's God Give Me Strength; Jim Croce's Time In A Bottle; Robert Palmer's She Makes My Day

Antonio Banderas connection: Power cut in New York City nearly put paid to recording of Me And My Shadow with Spanish film star. Only that one day had been set aside for studio session; Banderas had to return to Broadway show, Nine, Ball was due back in London; power restored at studio across town just in time for duet to be completed in two hours

Ball on A Love Story: "The Alone Together show was the soundtrack to a performer's life and it got me thinking about what I wanted my next recording to be about. I hit on the idea of trying to tell the story of a doomed love affair using the vocabulary of contemporary music"

Previously in North Yorkshire: York Barbican Centre, December 1997; April 1999, two nights; November 2000, two nights; all shows sold out. Outdoors at Castle Howard, July 1999. Harrogate International Centre, July 2001, two nights

When, where and why in York: Barbican Centre, Wednesday and Thursday, 8pm, promoting new album as part of 24-date tour. Supported by The Magnets

Tickets update: Both nights fast closing in on sell-outs with fewer than 150 seats available at £27.50 at time of going to press. Best ring 01904 656688 to check availability.

Updated: 09:25 Friday, October 31, 2003