JAZZ sensation Jamie Cullum will be returning to his home county this Christmas to perform at one of Swindon's leading live music venues.

The 24-year-old, who grew up in Hullavington, is scheduled to perform an afternoon of jazz at the Apartment, Havelock Street, on December 21 and it will cost just £5 to see him.

Jamie's last performance at the Apartment was in February when he performed alongside Ray Butt the well-known Swindon jazz virtuoso.

Members of the audience will be able to ask the self-taught pianist questions in between his songs.

Richard James, owner of the Apartment, said: "We are delighted to have him back. We knew he was a star in the making when he performed in Swindon before."

Jamie's music career started at the Grittleton House School in Chippenham where he performed in Oliver and Bugsy Malone.

He learnt his trade playing in Wiltshire's village halls and Pizza Express in Old Town.

In April, the singer pianist landed a £1 million, four album record deal with record giant Universal. Since then, he has won the Radio 2 Jazz Rising Star Award and this week performed at the Royal Variety Show.

The musician has had a blitz of media appearances with articles about him published in the Guardian, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail this year.

Jamie appeared alongside Des O'Connor and Matthew Perry on the Parkinson show in May. The chat show host as well as Jools Holland are well-known fans of his music.

Jamie met Jools when he took part in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 1998 and has been friends with him since.

Despite his immense success, Jamie has maintained close links with Wiltshire and he was the star of the Swindon Jazz festival earlier this year, when he received a rapturous reception.

His latest album Twenty something, went Gold after selling 159,000 copies within a fortnight of its release last month, making him the UK's fastest selling jazz star.

His father John Cullum is chairman of the New Swindon Company and the Wiltshire and Swindon Economic Partnership. He ran Arval PHH in Swindon until he retired last year. John and his wife Yvonne recently accompanied their son to New York where Jamie did a 20-day stint at the Oak Rooms in the Algonquin Hotel.

Jamie said: "Coming back home this Christmas, particularly to play the gig in Swindon, is going to be so special.

"It is going to bring to a close an incredible year for me and it will be great to have the opportunity to play for, and thank, the fans who were present from the very beginning of this whole adventure.

"I'm also looking forward to spending some quality time with my family for some long overdue time back on planet earth."

Money raised from the night will go to Children in Need. To book ring the Apartment on 01793 490210 or Longs Bar on 534519.

bvadde@newswilt,.co.uk