X-Factor star Ray Quinn has swapped the red carpet for underlay since all his gigs were axed due to the pandemic.
The 32-year-old, who was watched by 12.6million people at the height of his fame, has joined brothers Robin and Darren in the family carpet-fitting business.
And he reckons his dad Ray – who died of cancer aged 76 in November – would be proud of him.
The singer said: “When I first started, I actually went to work in my dad’s old uniform. He’d always said you can work your way out of anything, to keep your head up high – and that’s what I’ve done.
“It was good to be with my family during that difficult time.”
Dad-of-one Ray, who lives in Liverpool, became a household name after finishing second to Leona Lewis on The X Factor in 2006. He also won ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2009 and the All-Stars series in 2014.
When the pandemic hit, he was appearing in a play at Liverpool’s Royal Court.
Ray, who is engaged to teacher Emily Fletcher, added: “It’s been a tough year. The industry stopped. Then I lost my dad.”
Ray had a No1 album, Doing It My Way, after The X Factor and released his second, Undeniable, last year.
Now, with venues opening up again from June, he can’t wait to get back on the road in Rat Pack-inspired stage show All Singing All Swinging.
