Former Warlingham School student Katy Shotter rose to fame as winner of reality TV show Chancers in 2007 and toured America with none other than Beyonce.

The 21-year-old returns to her roots this Saturday to play a homecoming gig at Fairfield Halls and spoke to GRAHAM MOODY about coming home, the hardships of the industry and sunbathing next to a superstar.

Graham Moody: Is it weird to be playing Fairfield Halls?

Katy Shotter: It's crazy to be performing here as I grew up in Warlingham and Hamsey Green and now live in Coulsdon. I used to go past on the 403 bus and always looked at it. It's one of those iconic venues you dream of performing in so it feels quite weird.

GM: You have a full band with you don't you?

KS: Yes, there's eight of them and we have been doing a lot of shows together of late, including one on a beach for Harley Davidson which was a bit surreal as there were all these rockers in their big leather jackets.

GM: A lot of people here won't know your music, can you describe it for us?

KS: I love old music, old soul and motown, stuff from the 60s and 70s but it is still really modern. It's a mixture of pop and soul with some motown. I am recording my debut album at the moment and I will be performing quite a few songs from that with a few covers thrown in as well.

GM: What was Beyonce like then?

KS: I first met her at the Knowles family house in Houston - which was fantastic and I was very tempted to steal some toilet roll - and I was pretty starstruck as she is a huge celebrity. On the UK and Spanish tour I didn't see her much but I got really close to her in America. We had moments when it would just be me and her sunbathing by the pool. She has two sides to her in that on stage she can be this great diva but off it she is very down-to-earth and an inspiration.

GM: You perhaps haven't had the success you hoped for since Chancers have you?

KS: No, my whole career has gone a bit backwards. As part of the prize for winning Chancers I was signed to Sony but there was a lot of problems between the label and my management which I just got caught in the middle of. I know a lot of artists that get deals then end up being shelved for a while. I wanted stuff to happen that year but it stalled so I decided to release myself and find a better direction. It has been a rollercoaster and it's a tough industry but it makes you stronger.

Katy Shotter and Band, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, May 29, 8pm, £16. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.