Firstly his Christmas single 'What A Day' was put on the Radio 2 playlist and then came the biggie- an invitation from Sir Terry Wogan for Elio and his band to be the house act for his new radio show, due to launch in the spring.

And all this 20 years after Elio, who will be appearing at The Maltings on Tuesday, January 26, made his first TV appearance on 'Opportunity Knocks'.

Long before the days of 'Pop Idol' and 'The X Factor', 'Opportunity Knocks' was the premier TV talent show to be seen on and many acts lined up in front of Bob Monkhouse and a panel of judges in the hope of stardom.

And a 20 year-old Elio impressed, winning his heat. He was subsequently signed up to a top agency and was seen on the small screen alongside the likes of Michael Barrymore and Ronnie Corbett.

However, despite some primetime success, Elio decided that particular route wasn't for him and he broke away from the 'showbiz circle'.

Instead of singing other people's songs, Elio wanted to concentrate on his own material and one of the fruits of his labours was 'What A Day' which you may well have heard in the run-up to Christmas.

Elio wrote the song back in 1989 but since Sir Terry got hold of it in 2006, it has enjoyed a whole new lease of life.

"Two years ago I set about writing my first proper album," Elio said.

"I've played and sang with the likes of Ronan Keating, Martha Reeves and Shakin' Stevens but I thought it was time to do my own thing.

"I'd kept some of the stuff I'd written back in the 80s and there were some good songs in there, so it was a case of reinvigorating them rather than completely changing them.

"Although it's not actually on the album, it was 'What A Day' that really took off which was an unexpected surprise."

What made the buzz surrounding the song even more surprising was that Elio didn't necessarily write it with himself in mind.

He played it to good friend Katrina Leskanich, of Katrina and the Waves, in a car travelling back from a gig in 2006 and she was impressed.

With the bit firmly between his teeth, as soon as Elio got home he sat down with his friend and girlfriend and they turned it into a Christmas song, devising the lyric "It's Christmas in the old fashioned way."

Elio sent the finished article to Katrina and although she absolutely loved it, she said she couldn't take it off him.

The song somehow found its way on to Sir Terry's desk and he started playing it. Fast forward three years and the song could be heard all over Radio 2 as well as numerous local radio stations.

And this was surely a contributing factor to Mr Wogan's invitation to Elio and his band to join him in his new venture.

"How do you turn an offer like that down?" Elio continued.

"When Terry comes calling you know it's something big. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and he knows what he likes.

"Although I can't say too much at the moment, I've seen some of the fantastic acts Terry has got lined up and I can't wait to play alongside them and maybe even do a few of our own songs."

Elio's recent resurgence gave him the motivation he needed to start arranging a tour and after playing at The Maltings last year with Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes, he said it was near the top of the list when it came to deciding on venues.

"I absolutely love the building," he continued.

"The theatre and its other facilities are great as are the audiences. I'm really excited to return to The Maltings and it was one of the first venues I suggested when I heard we were going to tour.

"Berwick itself is a wonderful place. I'm from Eastleigh in Hampshire and Berwick reminds me a bit of Winchester which is close to where I live."

As the writer of a Christmas song, Elio was the perfect person to question on the furore surrounding the recent battle to be Christmas number one between X Factor winner Joe McElderry and rock band Rage Against The Machine.

"I think everyone deserves a break," Elio said.

"I was on a TV talent show just like Joe and I wish him all the best. He has a great voice and I'm sure he'll have a good career.

"That said, Rage Against The Machine winning the battle has done wonders for the Christmas singles market. The result was down to people power and even though I didn't particularly like the song, I like the intentions of the campaign.

"The X Factor winner had had the Christmas number one for the previous four years and I think it was almost taken for granted. It's healthy for the industry that there's now some competition as in Britain particularly, the Christmas chart topper is such a reveered number one."

Elio's album 'A Seat At My Table' is out on CD and download now and to get tickets (priced £12/£10) for his Maltings date later this month call in at the venue or ring (01289) 330999.