IT wasn't long ago that opera singer Jane Gilchrist was having to hold down four jobs to support her family.

The rest of the nation was still totally unaware of her incredible talent.

Then came the Channel 4 programme, Operatunity, inviting members of the public who wanted a chance to shine as an opera singer to audition by sending in a tape.

Jane, who is appearing with Denise Leigh at The Anvil, Basingstoke, on October 15, was initially reluctant to enter the contest. However, a friend persuaded her to submit a recording to the television company.

"Initially I thought there was no point in me doing it," she said.

"I genuinely believed there was no way I would get anywhere, but my friend told me to just 'get on with it'."

Her tape arrived at Channel 4 with only a few days to spare before the deadline for the competition ended.

While recovering from a wisdom tooth operation a few months later, Jane received a letter inviting her to an audition.

"I was delighted but I couldn't even smile - my cheeks were so swollen, it was hell," Jane laughed.

Despite being nervous about having to sign a contract during each phase of the audition, Jane felt she had little to lose.

"I decided the chance of swapping my job at Tesco's for a life as a professional opera singer was well worth the risk," she said.

There were nearly 2,500 applicants for Operatunity but Jane and another soprano, Denise Leigh, were eventually chosen as joint winners.

The pair have formed a close bond since winning and Jane says they became particularly close while rehearsing for the Coliseum performance.

"We went through a lot tegether and I regard her as a good friend now," Jane said.

Their prize was the chance to sing in the English National Opera production of Verdi's Rigoletto at the London Coliseum.

The winning pair's performance was an enormous success.

"It was an amazing experience. I shall never forget it," Jane said.

"One very specific moment was when I was left on the stage alone and it felt as though the whole of the auditorium exploded.

"I had to keep a completely straight face and not smile and appreciate the sound of the applause that was going on around me."

Jane and Denise later recorded a highly successful CD, Operatunity the winners, which was released by EMI Classics.

It was awarded a silver disc and was nominated in the album of the year category of the Classical Brit Awards, 2004.

Other recent engagements for Jane include appearances on Songs of Praise, the Classic FM Live concert at The Royal Albert Hall, BBC 2's Friday Night is Music Night and playing the operatic voice of Mrs Naughtie on Radio 4's Hamish and Dougal You'll Have Your Tea.

She is also currently halfway through an enormously taxing tour of 33 venues around the UK.

Now living near Bristol with her husband and their combined tally of seven children, Jane said that, not surprisingly, her life has changed dramatically since the programme shot her to fame.

Her family are incredibly supportive and Jane still regards being with them as the most important aspect of her life.

"My family love that I am doing this now. There is a lot of juggling involved for us to be able to do everything we do but we have an au pair to help us out.

"They love it when I'm on television, especially The Proms, and they like being stopped in the street and being asked when their mum's next on.

"Whenever I tell them I'm not sure if I can do the tour as I don't want to be away from them for too long, they always tell me I've got to do it and how proud they are of me."

Asked how other opera singers who have established themselves by more traditional means react to her new found fame she said: "So far everyone has been lovely.

"We have two singers with us on tour and they have been very encouraging and helpful. They have even given us tips of all sorts along the way."

"Also, throughout the whole of Operatunity, the entire male chorus would stand along the side of the stage and say Toi, Toi." (This is essentially a good luck wish to which you must not reply thank you for superstitious reasons.)

Jane also recently completed her first solo album Vocalise, recorded in Bratislavia in the Slovak Republic.

She is convinced that Operatunity has helped to make opera far more accessible to the general public and to younger audiences.

"That was the aim of Operatunity. We have had a lot of good feedback from people.

" My other half is the managing director of a building company and all his builders were watching it."

Given the chance, Jane said that she would love to play the part of The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro.

She is later planning to take part in a Gilbert and Sullivan solo tour but dates have yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile Jane's big UK tour continues and she knows that her family are right behind her as she enjoys the fruits of her amazing new success.

• Further information can be found at her official website http://www.janegilchrist.com">www.janegilchrist.com