She has been gone a long time but Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana (not the Israeli transsexual but the Irish singer victorious in 1970) is back and set to embark on her first tour in almost two decades.

The 57-year-old has been busy in that time, living in America for a while before spending five years as a Member of the European Parliament, representing Ireland's Connacht-Ulster constituency.

In recent years she has released a number of prayer albums but is now going back on the road with the Variety Magic show, also starring Jimmy Cricket and Don Maclean.

"I really am looking forward to it," she says.

"I had requests to go and sing at various events since I started back singing again but the organiser of this show is a friend as well and he suggested a tour rather than hopping back and forth doing individual dates.

"I have a friendship with both Jimmy and Don too so it's very special when you are working with people you really like."

Dana shot to fame 39 years ago when she became the first Irish winner of the Eurovision Song Contest at just 18 years of age with her song All Kinds of Everything.

"I was a complete underdog and I wasn't expected to win," she recalls.

"I had retired from any hope of being a singer about six months before and this was supposed to be my last swansong.

"For six months after I was in a state of shock and when I arrived back it was so important for us to have won, it was a national celebration.

"We always placed well but we were like the bridesmaid, never the bride.

"The next night I was a huge star going around Europe like a pop star.

"There were parts when it was difficult but at the same time I was living the dream."

As a former MEP, Dana also had her own views on the expenses scandal to have rocked Britain over the last few months.

"It's awful and it's right it should be made public," she says.

"Heads should roll if they have to, it's an absolute disgrace."

Variety Magic, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, July 1, 7.45pm, £15.50. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.