As he prepares to star in The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Matt Terry reflects on life after The X Factor, his love of musical theatre and why timeless songs never lose their power.

For many performers, winning a television talent show might seem like the culmination of years of hard work. For Matt Terry, it was just the beginning.

Nearly a decade after winning The X Factor, Terry has built an impressive career in musical theatre, playing roles including Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages, Alex the Lion in Madagascar and the title role in The Grinch. Alongside theatre, he's continued writing and releasing his own music, forging a career far removed from the label of reality television winner.

Now he's preparing for his latest challenge, taking over from Peter Andre in The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, celebrating one of pop music's most enduring catalogues.

"Honestly, my first reaction was UNREAL! As a solo artist, it can be exhausting having everything be about you all the time. So the thought of going on tour with a cast is so liberating. I also love Frankie Valli and have watched Jersey Boys the musical numerous times. I'm excited to get started!"

Although he first found fame performing alone, Terry relishes the idea of joining an ensemble. It's also a chance to perform music that has been part of his life for years.

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, with songs including Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man and December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) becoming classics across generations. For Terry, the secret is their honesty.

"They're real! And they're sang by a real vocalist, telling real stories. Something I wish we had more time and room for in the music industry today."

His favourite song is equally personal.

"Oh What a Night always makes me feel warm. It's the song I can hear playing on the CD player at home when I was a kid, or at a family BBQ. It's an undeniable feel good that everybody loves, including me!"

Terry knows audiences are coming to reconnect with those memories.

"This is about giving the people coming to see us what they want. They're there for Frankie Valli, so I want to give them the closest version of that I can possibly give."

Long before television fame, Terry trained in musical theatre, something he credits with giving him the discipline to sustain a career.

" I'm grateful for my training because it has taught me so much. Specifically, the discipline that it takes to be a performer in any industry. How to sing correctly, take care of my voice and my body. The dedication to the art in general."

Of the many roles he's played, one still stands out.

"Alex the Lion is a role I don't think I will ever recover from!! To date, one of the hardest roles. Mainly because of the costume and the demand of his stage time. But I loved every minute, and I met some of the loves of my life on that show; I'll be forever grateful. It gave me STAMINA!"

Theatre also provides something he never found as a solo artist.

"It's definitely an escape for me... playing a role and singing other people's songs takes the pressure off!"

That experience has transformed how he approaches music itself.

"My singing teacher Janet taught me from when I was 16... It's not about just standing and singing a pretty song; what really counts is the feeling you give to people with your notes and words."

The same philosophy shapes his songwriting.

"I'm inspired by everyone and everything. Companies people have built, music, art, choreography, life achievements, survival. All of that inner strength is what keeps me going... If it can happen to someone else, it can happen to you."

Looking back over the past decade, the biggest lesson has been surprisingly simple. "That I am enough. And all of our stories and experiences matter and are to be told to lift others around you who are going through the same battles."

It's an outlook reinforced by the best advice he's ever received.

"To have an extraordinary career you need an ordinary life. And invest as much in a career as in personal, everyday life."

Despite a growing list of theatre credits, Terry still treasures touring the country.

"I'm literally where I am today because of public vote, so genuinely being able to tour the country and meet all the people responsible is the most rewarding part."

His admiration for Frankie Valli extends beyond the famous falsetto.

"Being completely honest, it was when I first watched Jersey Boys the musical when I really got to know his story, and it's the grafting that makes me appreciate his work. It's inspiring and something I apply to my own career."

Ask where he feels most at home, and the answer is instant. "On stage, no question!"

As The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons heads out on tour, Terry hopes audiences leave with more than great songs ringing in their ears.

"I hope they're smiling and feel like they got to escape the world for the night. I hope it gives them the extra pep in their step to go smash their week. And of course, I would love for them to have enjoyed our voices and our dancing - and, if I'm lucky, check out my music!"

Nearly ten years after The X Factor, Matt Terry has built a career defined not by where it began, but by where it's taken him. As he steps into the world of Frankie Valli, he brings the same qualities that have kept those songs alive for generations: honesty, heart and a genuine love of performing.

The Best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons featuring Matt Terry arrives at Bournemouth Pavilion on Sun 24 January 2027. Tickets are on sale now.