FORMER lead singer with Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley is in Bolton next month -- with a unique piece of audience participation.

They will get to choose the songs he sings.

When he was with Spandau Ballet, he was responsible for numerous 1980s chart toppers, including True, Gold and Through The Barricades.

But since the band's split, Tony has been immersing himself more in the sounds of 60s swing and jazz.

And at his show at the Albert Halls in Bolton on April 1, he will give the audience the chance to decide which songs are performed.

He said: "The audience have a sort of menu of songs. They tick one, write their name and why they chose that song, and put it in a box. In the second half of the show we will pick some out and I'll sing them. So it is basically the audience's choice.

"I'll be interested to learn why some of them have chosen those songs. I like having a chat and there are so many different little stories behind the songs that I can see myself having a good rapport with the audience."

However the nature of the show means that Tony and his band have to rehearse upward of 75 songs to ensure that they are note-perfect on any possible selection. Out of those dozens of options, Tony says it is hard for him to pick a personal favourite.

"There are so many. I'm really lucky that I get to work with lots of orchestras," he said. Now Tony is working on a swing album which he describes as "music to watch girls by, 60s, mod style stuff," but he is also considering following his former bandmate Martin Kemp into acting.

He said: "Whether I'd be any good or not I don't know. But this year there is so much going on with the music, someone close to me told me to concentrate on what I know I can do, get the album done, and then maybe look at the acting.

"I don't think I could do comedy, but action stuff or drama would be great. Perhaps something like Life on Mars; I could be a cheesy 70s cop. I'd love that."

l Tony Hadley will appear at the Albert Halls on Saturday April 1. Tickets cost £17.50, and are available from the box office on 01204 334400, by visiting www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk