Cole's one of the boyz

Cole Page with Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy

WHEN Chadderton lad Cole Page steps out on to the Bankside Hilton Hotel stage in London on October 16, he will surely realise that his professional life will never be quite the same again.

That's because Cole - or as he is still known to his mates, 'Trev' or 'Pagey' - will that night begin a 30-date 'Boyzlife' world tour alongside his great mate Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden, formerly of Westlife.

Recently described as the 'UK's king of swing', Page has become almost a household name on the swing and jazz circuit, playing to huge audiences who have included Bill Clinton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Mick Hucknall and a multitude of TV and sports stars.

The 'Boyzlife' tour is set to be something else, though. It's sending Page down a slightly different path musically, but sell-out audiences across the UK, the Far East, Europe and finally South Africa will witness what sounds like it's going to be a truly unforgettable experience.

Asked about the 'Boyzlife' tour, which ends in South Africa on December 15, Page said: "Potentially it could be massive, though the concept itself is simple really.

"It's intimate, behind the scene chat and Keith and Brian will be honest about their respective journeys.

"That'll be how they got there, what happened when they did get there, what happened on tour, and they'll also feature the songs that made both bands so successful.

"I think they had around 40 number ones or so between them, so there's plenty of material there.

"From my perspective, people have asked whether I'm just opening the show.

"Yes I am, but I've known Keith for 20 years and he saw a niche for me in this concept.

"He asked how my diary was October through to December, and would I perform.

"I asked him whether he just wanted me to open the shows, but he said 'no, I want you on stage right through.

"Therefore I'm going to be the extra man. Keith and Brian will be there, and I'll be in the background doing what I'm doing.

"I'm singing on every song, playing guitar on a lot of them, and harmonica.

"It's certainly going to be a step up for me.

"It's a big deal from my perspective, and tickets have sold out. In fact they sold out in just six hours.

"It's just going to be an amazing experience."

The tour will certainly feel like a million miles away from his Chadderton upbringing, and his early days singing Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, 10cc, Bob Marley and latterly Harry Connick Jnr tracks in Oldham's pubs and clubs.

Page's big break appears to have come in December, 2001, around the time he decided to change his stage name to Cole after featuring on a critically-acclaimed 'Hooray for Hollywood' tour.

The former printer said: "Lucky breaks are there to be grabbed.

"I was asked to perform at an event in Cheshire, and Bill Clinton was the guest speaker.

"That was fundamental in my progression because, as performers, we are a little bit negative about ourselves and we are our own worst critics.

"You know you can do it and can do it well, but when I came off stage that night and saw Bill Clinton afterwards, he just said 'you are amazing'.

"That to me was like, 'Oh my God', and it gave me confidence that nobody else could put there.

"That was the start of it all, and it really built from there."

Las Vegas, Europe, Asia - Page has done the lot in recent years, but he'll never lose touch with this roots.

The down-to-earth ex-Yew Tree and South Chadderton School pupil added: "Chadderton's still home. I go back there to see my mum.

"What I'm doing is nice, everything's laid on for you and you don't have to think about anything, but I do miss the local pubs sometimes, with all the banter and the craic.

"We'll have banter on stage with Keith and Brian, but it won't be like what we used to have in the pubs."