Celebrity: All hail! The Duchess of Dagenham

First things first. It's not an act. Stacey Solomon is exactly as you'd expect. There's no difference between what you see on screen and what you get face-to-face.

Bubbly, friendly and a boundless ball of energy, she's still the down-to-earth girl next door who won our hearts in X Factor before being crowned Queen of the Jungle in I'm A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here.

At George Martin's Air Studios, in London's leafy Hampstead, she looks every bit the superstar, albeit one who's ready for winter.

"Oh my gosh! I am so cold," she shrieks, snuggling into a giant faux fur jacket, scarf and skinny jeans, which served only to emphasise her petite frame.

She's also impossibly pretty with flawless skin and a mass of blonde hair; it's easy to see why she's been chosen to play Tinker Bell in a touring arena production of Peter Pan – The Never Ending Story.

"I couldn't believe it when I got offered this role, it really is the dream job. I get to sing and act, which I just love. The costumes are just fabulous too, and it's such a great family show and very Christmassy.

"My kids love it too," she says of her children Zach, aged five, and Leighton, one. "They were so excited when I told them mummy was going to be Tinker Bell. I can't wait for them to see it.

"Zach especially loves the Disney version of Peter Pan. But who doesn't? Zach loves all things Disney. He can't wait to see mummy singing and flying through the air."

That's right. Along with an incredible set of lungs and an aptitude for surviving countless bushtucker trials, Stacey can add 'flying' to her endless list of talents. After her audience with the Weekend, she'll jet off to Belgium for flying lessons with the production company behind the lavish spectacular. As you do.

"Singing and flying – that's going to be the real challenge. I'm quite nervous but it'll be fun learning. I'll be training for two or three days.

"I know that once I get up there, it will be great. I will be flying to the top of the arena and I'll have the best view in the house." The special effects-packed show takes in seven UK cities over the next month, kicking off at the Birmingham NIA on Friday before dates in Nottingham, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds.

It is no standard production. J.M Barrie's classic tale of the boy who never grew up has been given a remarkable makeover. As well as a never-seen-before, free-flying Peter Pan – thanks to some stunning technical wizardry – the score features family favourites including Robbie Williams' Angels, Sailing by Rod Stewart and Stacey's own rendition of the Westlife track You Raise Me Up. It's a stunning version – we were the first in the queue to receive an exclusive playback of the track and it sounds sensational.

There'll be five chances to see Stacey and the rest of the cast during Peter Pan's three-day Birmingham run. It could even be extended to cope with demand for tickets.

But how will the self-confessed homebody cope with being away from her young sons and fiancé Aaron Barnham?

"The boys will either be at home with their dad and my family, or come with me. I am just the same as every working mum really."

She will however, be driving home for Christmas. It's no secret that Stacey's a huge fan of the festive season; her debut single in 2011 was a cover of the Chris Rea hit, and she fronted Fox's Christmas Jumper Day campaign the following year.

"Ah, Christmas is all about family; my family and Aaron's family. We'll have a massive roast and there will be so many presents. For a few days we just slob out and do nothing." We hear you, Stacey.

Naturally, her eyes will also be on whether the winner of X Fac will secure the much-coveted Christmas number one slot.

Stacey came third in the sixth series of the ITV talent show in 2009, losing out to Joe McElderry and runner-up Olly Murs. At the time she was the only one of the three not to secure a record deal. Four years on, she's still a fan of the show.

"X Factor got me where I am and I'm still a massive fan because it's such great family viewing. We are all watching it in my household.

"I don't know who will win though. They are all so good. Zach seems to love everyone. After each one sings he'll say 'they were good, mummy'.

We're pretty sure that no one matches up to his mum, who won an army of fans with her performances of Louis Armstrong's What a Wondferful World and Queen's Who Wants to Live Forever. In the final week she teamed up with Michael Buble for a showstopping performance of Feeling Good.

But would she ever want to take a seat on the judging panel?

"Oh, definitely. I'd love to be a judge. I think it'd be a huge privilege.

"I also think it's important to have someone on the panel who has been there themselves. Cheryl Cole, for example, could really empathise with contestants having been on Popstars: The Rivals.

"It's tough to put yourself out there and perform in front of the four judges and the cameras. Cheryl understood that," she says.

A year after X Factor, Stacey jetted of to the Australian jungle for I'm A Celeb alongside Linford Christie, Jenny Eclair and Dom Joly, who memorably nicknamed her the 'Duchess of Dagenham'. It was there, with her infectious enthusiasm and stream-of-consciousness cheer, that she further endeared herself to the nation. And unlike so many of jungle contestants – past and present – she didn't use the programme to showcase her vocal talent, despite being keen to secure a record deal.

She survived eating kangaroo penis – and living in close proximity to drama queen Gillian McKeith – to eventually be crowned Queen of the Jungle, beating Shaun Ryder into second place. Her success won her a contract as the face of Iceland and a job presenting Sing If You Can, opposite the irrepressible Keith Lemon.

There are, however, limits to her talents. When she appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, she scored just six points on her specialist subject of The Inbetweeners. Stephen Fry and Professor Robert Winston don't need to watch their backs just yet.

So what next for Stacey? Having secured a record deal with Conehead UK, whose roster includes Peter Andre and Engelbert Humperdinck, she's been working on her first solo album, which is scheduled for release in the new year.

"The new material is really varied. It's young and poppy and I feel really lucky to have been able to have a hand in writing it," she reveals proudly. As well as songwriting, Stacey also has a bit of a penchant for baking and, just like us, is a big fan of The Great British Bake Off.

"My girlfriends took me on a macaroon-making course for my birthday. They were so tricky to make but I was so proud of the end results. They actually looked like macaroons" she laughs.

The truth is something different. Stacey's Twitter pictures reveal an atypical modesty: there's a photograph showing a perfect pink macaroon.

"I'd love to have a go on Bake Off. But I think I'd crumble under the pressure.

"Baking is such a specific science and I don't think I could cope having to do it in front of TV cameras."

Having performed to millions on live TV, we struggle to believe this. "I'll give anything a try though," she shrugs.

But for now it's back to playing Tinker Bell. And with that she's gone in a flurry of fairy dust – off to learn to fly, with wings, of course.

By Emily Bridgewater

* Peter Pan – the Never Ending Story World Arena Tour runs from December 13-15 at the Birmingham NIA. To book tickets go to www.theticketfactory.com