Singer and actress Barbara Dickson has been part of the British music landscape since the 1960s. With her concert tour coming to Dartford this month, she chats to Paul Revel about her kids, Blood Brothers and Eminem ...

BARBARA is hard at work recording an album of Beatles' songs. She returned to the studio on January 2 after a short Christmas break with her family. She has three sons: Colm, 19, Gabriel, 17, and 15 year-old Archie.

"It was sad for me to leave the boys while they're still on holiday. The younger two go to boarding school," she explains. "I think it's unfair and sends the wrong message if you're not there when they come home.

"When I'm not working I go up to their school every weekend."

They sound like a close family and I ask Barbara if music is in the blood.

She says all three are musical; Colm is a lead and bass guitarist, Gabriel sings and Archie is a drummer.

"But I've never sent them to music lessons and haven't actively encouraged them, because it's a very difficult world," she says.

Dunfermline-born Barbara was a familiar face in the Scottish folk circuit in the late 60s. During this time she became firm friends with fellow musician Willy Russell, resulting in a starring role in his 1974 musical John Paul George Ringo ... & Bert, which became a West End hit.

As an unexpected result of this show, more than 30 years later the Universal label has commissioned Barbara to record the album of Beatles' tracks she is currently working on.

"It's weird the way things come around," she says.

Barbara is enthusiastic about the new album. Though it is not due out until May, the audience at her Dartford concert will get a sneak preview when she performs some of the tracks.

"It's wonderful, but I'm doing it in my own inimitable way. An artist of my vintage it's not going to be poppy. Imagine Emmylou Harris doing a Beatles album."

Her most famous collaboration with Willy Russell was playing the lead role in his phenomenally successful musical Blood Brothers. The show opened in 1983 and is still a West End and international smash hit today.

"When I first read the script I wasn't sure I could do it.

"Willy has said to me: "You are the definitive Mrs Johnstone, there's never been anybody who's done it like you.

"It's such a compliment. but it wasn't entirely to do with talent more the seriousness with which I approached the role. I treated it like I was going to play Lady Macbeth.

"I wanted it to be absolutely perfect, because Willy was my old friend."

While Barbara has had a string of chart-busting albums and singles over the years, her biggest hit remains her duet with Elaine Page, I Know Him So Well, from the musical Chess.

"It was a marvellous milestone for me but has by no means been the highlight of my career," she asserts. "The nicest thing to come from that was Elaine Page. She's lovely, we're very good pals to this day."

Musically, the folk singer remains true to her roots.

"I respond in my heart to certain Scottish and Irish music." she says. "I don't follow the charts, I'm not very interested.

"But I am a big Eminem fan, I think he's a folk poet, like Bob Dylan.

When not on the road, there's no place like home for Barbara.

"When I'm away, I close my eyes and think about my own bed in my own house, and being with my own family."

She adds: "I like walking, doing tapestry and cooking for my family. I'm not a great cook but I do roasts and stuff. And big fattening puddings."

Barbara Dickson in concert, January 31, The Orchard, Home Gardens, Dartford, 7.45pm, £17.50/£18.50, 01322 220000.