Kimberley Walsh is to release her debut solo album early next year.

The Bradford singer, currently wowing the judges on the BBC’s hit show Strictly Come Dancing, is releasing the album Centre Stage on Decca Records in February.

“I've always loved musical theatre and doing Shrek! The Musical re-ignited the passion in me,” says Kimberley. “I wanted to take some classic songs and re-invent them. The melodies in many musical songs are so brilliant I knew we could create something special by experimenting with the production. We’ve come up with some interesting takes on classic songs.”

The album includes the track One Day I’ll Fly Away from the film Moulin Rouge.

“I was in my element recording it and felt like I was discovering new tones to my voice. I really felt like I was going back to my roots,” said Kimberley, of Allerton, who went to Stage 84 in Idle and the DM Academy in Shipley. She shot to fame in 2002 after winning a place in Girls Aloud on ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals show.

Currently celebrating ten years of Girls Aloud with the release of a greatest hits album and a forthcoming arena tour, she is also training hard for Strictly. On Saturday she came second to the top on the judges’ scores leaderboard with a sizzling salsa.