'I took Sir Terry Wogan's advice!'

Singer and broadcaster Aled Jones on his top memories from a career that started at age 12.

- GEMMA CALVERT

He's been in the business for four decades, released 43 albums and worked with stars such as Dames Judi Dench and Julie Andrews, and Russell Watson. But if you thought that Aled Jones' biggest UK hit single was his 1985 Christmas classic Walking in the Air, think again.

'Actually, it was a duet I did with Sir Terry Wogan of Little Drummer Boy,' explains Aled, admitting that 'back in the day' the late TV veteran and BBC chat-show host imparted some excellent career advice.

'Terry always joked about spreading yourself as thinly as possible, because it makes it more difficult for people to get rid of you. He always said, "Do as much as you can. Have loads of variety in what you do." I've always taken him at his word.'

Aled became globally famous at 14 when he recorded Walking in the Air for a TV advert (the song was written for Channel 4's 1982 animated film, The Snowman) and it reached No 5 in the UK singles charts.

Between the ages of 12 and 16 (when his voice broke), the Bangor-raised schoolboy released 16 albums and achieved enormous success, singing for everyone from the late Queen to Pope John Paul II.

After studying at the Royal Academy of Music, Aled began releasing new albums as a baritone and went on to become a fixture on television and radio.