Katherine Jenkins re-emerges radiant and relaxed in 2008 after receiving the best Christmas present yet – time with her family. Talk to most celebrities or entertainers and their plea for more 'family time' can sound like a cliché. For Katherine, it's the truth.

2007 has been the 26-year-old Welsh mezzo-soprano's most successful (and hectic) year to date. She spent the first six months touring and performing across the world before returning to the UK to work on her fifth and latest album, Rejoice, which launched in November.

As if that wasn't enough, her Coutts-sponsored Viva la Diva tour with prima ballerina Darcey Bussell kicked off later that month. This involved a full-time rehearsal schedule and nine-month punishing fitness regime to get ready for the production's first leg which ran until 22 December.

"It's been manic," she says, admitting the last three months have been the busiest of her career. "I'd be in the gym from 7am, then Viva rehearsals would start from eleven and go on until nine at night. And, amongst all that, I'd be promoting my album with every spare moment I had.

"The hardest thing was being away from home. But spending time with them over Christmas has been fabulous, they are just the most important thing in the world to me," insists the doe-eyed, Marilyn Monroe-style beauty.

Looking back now, all the hard work in 2007 has paid off. Her album has been a Christmas hit and such is the demand for Viva La Diva, described as having 'high brow sex appeal', that it is being brought to arenas such as O2 and MIA in Manchester later this year. "We never imagined it would be so big. We're obviously excited and feel there's nothing like this out there. But we're just really overwhelmed by the public interest," she admits.

The show was the brainchild of her manager, Brian Lane, who suggested it 18 months ago. Both she and Darcey, who have been friends since 2004 ("We first met at Buckingham Palace… as you do!"), jumped at the idea.

"I knew Darcey was leaving The Royal Ballet and we both wanted to bring our genre to a wider audience. We also had the same view that, to do it, you sometimes have to take risks and do the unexpected."

The result is a production that is a celebration of divas, past and present, which have inspired both artists throughout their careers. It is a collaboration of song and dance, with a lot of high class performances… and a little of the unexpected.

"You don't always know how to deal with the press, nobody teaches you that. I'll happily answer questions, I'm just not the type of person to put my life out there. It can be difficult and a bit daunting."

Katherine pays tribute to opera star Maria Callas and other divas such as Barbara Streisand, Dame Shirley Bassey, Doris Day, Judy Garland and Madonna. Darcey, meanwhile, pays homage to ballet legend Margot Fonteyn together with Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. Then both swap talents, with Katherine doing dance and Darcey singing.

"I'm never nervous when I go onstage, but the first night performing Viva la Diva, I kept worrying about my dance routines. It was freaking me out!" she effuses.

With many of their chosen divas coming from the Hollywood golden age, it's unsurprising that Hollywood has come knocking. Aside from stars such as Mel Gibson attending the opening night, two big hitters from Broadway and Las Vegas watched their show in London last month with a view to bringing it there in the future. And more international performances are now being discussed in Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

How will all this impact her current day-to-day routine? "What routine? I never have one!" she laughs. "Every day is completely different. If I'm not on tour here, then I'm touring a different country. Or I'm promoting my album or working with Montblanc as a brand ambassador for their new jewellery range. So every day is different and I like it that way."

The busier Katherine is, the more normal she feels. "If I've got time off, I'm usually saying to my manager, why is this? I think that if you love what you do, you're very lucky to be able to get up in the morning and be excited about the day ahead."

So what does she most look forward to? The performances, the travel, the high glamour? "Life isn't as glamorous as people think," she insists. "There are parts that are glamorous, like singing for Prince Albert in Monaco or at awards shows held in glamorous hotels. But no one sees me warm up in the kitchen while staff are running around getting ready!"

"There are parts that are glamorous, like singing for Prince Albert in Monaco or at awards shows in glamorous hotels. But no one sees me warm up in the kitchen while staff are running around getting ready."

She most looks forward to the times she can share her experiences with family. "I try and take them with me as often as I can to things. And just to see how excited they get about it all. It gives you a great sense of reality."

But it can prove a double edged sword, what with the gigantic press interest in her. "I try to keep my family and friends out of it but sometimes it can be difficult and a bit daunting. You don't always know how to deal with the press, nobody teaches you that. I'll happily answer questions, I'm just not the type of person to put my life out there."

On the whole, however, life couldn't be better for the former chorister, who caught the public's attention when she sang at a special mass honouring the Pope's silver jubilee at Westminster Cathedral in 2003.

Since then, she's performed at the Sydney Opera House, supported fellow Welsh singer Aled Jones (famous for 'I'm Walking in the Air') and, most importantly, sang the Welsh National anthem at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff before Wales played England.

A self confessed rugby nut, she's already looking forward to next month's Six Nations. How does she think Wales will fare? "Oh, I think Wales will win!" she giggles. "I have to say that as I'm their mascot. But I think we can. We've done it before and we can do it again."

Coutts is the sponsor of the Viva la Diva tour. To book tickets log on to www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Katherine Jenkin's fifth album, Rejoice, is out now and her autobiography launches in February.

By Barbara Walshe