Faye Tozer has a few days off, with just time enough for interviews, in a busy schedule which will see her squeeze in some musical theatre dates, including a Newcastle run, before hitting the road again with Steps.
And she can't wait to get back out there.
The Steps star and all-round entertainer - singer-songwriter, dancer and actress - will be playing the role of silent movie star Lina Lamont in a tour of Singin' in the Rain, which comes to the Theatre Royal in May, and then will be helping to bring some sunshine to Sunderland in July when dance-pop favourites Steps take the headline slot at Kubix Festival.
Read more: North East festival guide 2022
She even has the end of the year mapped out too, with a return to pantomime in Nottingham. "I've been doing panto since I was a kid," she says.
It's Steps, of course, which made her name. The group, which also comprises Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee and Ian 'H' Watkins, first burst onto the scene in the late nineties with the likes of techno line-dance hit 5,6,7,8 and Tragedy and a blast of their enduring summer party spirit could be just what's needed for festivalgoers after two years of pandemic restraints.
"It's going to be such a great day!" says Faye of the July 9 show which will see them supported by fellow mood-boosters Vengaboys and Aqua.
This year marks Steps' 25-year anniversary and she's especially excited about the Sunderland date, being just down the road from her home in West Boldon where she lives with her husband, son and now a second rescue puppy.
"That's taking all our spare time!" she laughs, describing the new addition as "beautiful and feisty".
During the pandemic, which brought Steps' plans, along with the whole world of entertainment, to an abrupt halt, Faye found herself at home far more than she'd been in years.
"In the first lockdown nobody knew what was going on," she recalls. "We kind of made the best of a strange situation.
"For me I've never spent so much time at home." She is aware lockdown was a struggle for many people, she says, but "I got to hang out with my family" and she appreciated the likes of birdsong and less traffic on the roads.
But, conscious of the effect upon the industry as a whole, including friends of hers in the theatre, she was keen to raise awareness.
"I wanted to do my bit and keep that voice loud and strong. People were struggling and didn't know how to move forward.
"Our industry was described as non-viable." And it wasn't just people on the stage who were affected, she points out, but all those who worked in theatres, including selling programmes.
Her focus throughout was on staying positive and finding a way to move forward.
She admits: "Steps was a little bit of a saviour, for myself and Steps the band."
Having previously separated and reformed, with a Tears On The Dancefloor album becoming the second biggest-selling independent album of 2017, the group was put on hold by the pandemic but when they were able to get back together between lockdowns they were soon busy recording and creating a new video.
New release What The Future Holds came out in 2020 - to be followed by last year's What The Future Holds Part 2 which reached number two in September.
Faye, 46, who reached the finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, says: "It was a breath of fresh air to deliver something like that and distract people from what was going on. We needed something to look forward to, some kind of sparkle.
"It was just incredible. We played it by ear and we ploughed on."
What The Future Holds, their sixth studio album, had been ready to go in March 2020. Faye now says: "It kind of worked in our favour by downing tools for a year.
"We could evaluate what was going on and how to move forward." They had plenty time to think about What The Future Holds Part 2 and then ended last year with "an incredible tour".
Having earlier postponed this arena tour, they were finally able to complete dates, save for some cancellations due to Covid, including one at Newcastle's Utilita Arena in November.
While their first time back in the rehearsal room had been "hugely emotional", their return to the stage, especially with capacity audiences allowed back, was more so - coupled with nerves. It took confidence and they were "petrified" - but in a good way, Faye remembers.
"So many things pulled at the heartstrings.
"It was an incredible adrenaline rush to be performing in front of an audience when we hadn't done it for such a long time and when we pulled it out of the bag that was emotional for us as well. "
She says of Steps' enduring success: "You couldn't have written it, when we were put together back in '97 from a line-dancing song.
"We're together and touring and about to do our 25-year anniversary summer - it's mindblowing to be honest, overwhelming."
It's all been, she says, "an incredible journey."
When they split in 2001 "we found ourselves as individuals and so it was interesting to come back together". They found the same desire to do it all again and during lockdown old footage was posted online which was their first chance to watch it and reflect up on their achievements.
And she says now: "It feels we've bonded as people, business partners and friends - we're so much stronger and more creative."
Fans are promised a treat when they catch up with them on July 9 at Kubix Festival, which also will be back for a second leg on July 15-16 with a day of rock and indie music.
Faye herself is also eager herself to catch up with Vengaboys, whose number one hits are Boom Boom Boom Boom and We’re Going to Ibiza, as well as Danish-Norwegian Europop group Aqua, creators of UK number ones Barbie Girl; Doctor Jones and Turn Back Time.
Dutch Eurodance group Vengaboys have supported Steps before and always have an "incredilble reception" and of Aqua she says: "They haven't toured the UK before - I don't think anybody's seen them over here live - so that's a really big moment.
"I'm really excited for that!"
For the full-line up and ticket details for Kubix Festival keep an eye out on its website here. For tickets to Singin' in the Rain at the Theatre Royal, where the musical will run May 3-8, see here.
