He hasn’t had to go back to collecting bins, but X Factor survivor Andy Abraham says the music business has proved much tougher to crack then he thought.

The Enfield singer is back on home turf this week to perform at Millfield Theatre, but he says he would jump at the chance to reunite with Chico, Journey South and the gang.

He turns 50 in July and says: “It’s a difficult business out there and once you get to a certain age you feel the doors start to close.

“Maybe they need to do a big reunion of the X Factor guys. I would, absolutely, be up for doing another arena tour.“ It’s nine years since the then Palmers Green bus driver charmed us on the second series of the show with his ’rags to riches’ dream of becoming a popstar, and he says: “I haven’t gone back to being a binman yet, but you never know.

“I absolutely think I have made a success, especially coming out of the early days of the show.“ The Edmonton College dropout was 41 when his smooth vocals had Simon Cowell calling his performances “outstanding“ and Sharon Osbourne telling him “you’re the stuff dreams are made of“. He came second, losing out to Shane Ward, and in March 2006 his début album charted at number two. But by 2008 he had come last in the Eurovision Song Contest with his song Even If.

It would be easy to feel a little sorry for him, but the father-of-two is pragmatic about the “ups and downs“ of life.

“My career is music. I sing, that’s what I do. I go out and entertain and I’m living in a bigger house and in that respect it’s fine and I have definitely progressed from before the show, so the X Factor has helped. It gave me more of a perspective on where I can go and what’s possible in life.

“It’s very difficult to stay in the public eye with more talent shows coming out and being the age I am. But because I love music and creating music and performing it’s very difficult to get that out of my system.“

Despite remaining unsigned Andy, who now lives in Cheshunt with wife Denise, daughter Tara, 19 and son Jacob, 17, is still writing and plans to bring out a new album using PledgeMusic.

“It’s a very money-driven industry and if a company loses a penny you are dropped. It happens all the time and I’m no different. But it hasn’t dampened my future, or how I see myself, or the type of music I want to bring out.“

He has recently found success as lead vocalist for tours such as Boogie Nights and is set to star as Judas in a one-off West End revival of Godpsell on May 19 in aid of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

But first he’ll be at Millfield Theatre on Saturday and says he’s “looking forward to it“.

Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, London, Saturday, March 8, 8pm.Details: 0208 807 6680, millfieldtheatre.co.uk