Rachel Tucker may have missed out on the coveted role of Nancy in the final of the BBC’s I’d Do Anything but this hasn’t stopped her forging a successful career on the stage.

Since the show, she has starred in We Will Rock You and is performing in the Best of broadway show with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Hampton Court Festival on Thursday. She spoke to Will Gore.

What can we expect from the Best of Broadway? There will be everything, from an Abba tribute through to Stephen Sondheim – a wide variety of musical theatre and Broadway songs. It is right up my street and I am singing some of my favourites including Sondheim’s Being Alive and Cabaret, which I did on I’d Do Anything.

Is performing with the Royal Philharmonic a daunting prospect? It will be my third time singing with a big orchestra, so it is still quite new to me, but I am really getting the hang of it – I love it! There will be a massive audience and I will have my fingers crossed that the rain stays away!

Have you always been a fan of musical theatre? Musical theatre is in my blood. I used to get up every Saturday at 6am with my brothers and sisters and we would watch all the shows. Oliver was a favourite and we would also watch the Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Annie. We’d act them out and were really encouraged by our parents – they couldn’t shut me up!

How do you look back on I’d Do Anything? Myself and all the girls said after doing the finals we could have climbed Everest because we were so used to that standard of pressure. I have no regrets and am so glad they let me take part in it. It has been such an amazing stepping stone and I am very proud of what I did.

You been performing in We Will rock you since September – are you sick of the Queen songs? No, I absolutely love it! In the show we sing the songs our way but you can’t beat listening to Freddy Mercury. It has been the best first job to have.

As a graduate of a TV talent show, did you take an interest in Britain’s Got Talent? I was never really a fan of TV talent shows but they are taking over -– you can’t not watch them. Everywhere you look it’s been Britain’s Got Talent and everyone’s been talking about it.

Do you feel sorry for Susan Boyle?

I didn’t until she went into the clinic. I actually see how that could happen very easily. We were really put through our paces on I’d Do Anything but we didn’t have nearly as much coverage or pressure as Susan did.

You recently got to work with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on workshops for his sequel to The Phantom of the Opera – how did that go? It was fantastic to work with him on his own stuff. I saw a completely different side to him – he is such a hard worker. I loved his shows when I was growing up – Starlight Express was one of the first musicals I ever saw. I am not involved any more but the music is ticking along and I’m sure it is going to be a big hit.

The Best of Broadway featuring Rachel Tucker, Hampton Court Palace, June 11, 9pm, £45/£47.50, hamptoncourtfestival.com