“I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard as I have done over the last 42 years,“ quips Elkie Brooks from her home in Devon.

Few would argue with her. In her long and illustrious career, the singer has produced some 20 studio albums (with more reaching the top 75 than any other British female artist), sold out the Royal Albert Hall and flogged millions upon millions of records.

“You’ve got to keep going, you’ve got to keep mobile,“ says the 67-year-old. And she really means it.

As well as the 100 or so dates she performs every year ("It's still as gruelling, you have to have a very high fitness level to be able to go out and sing for two hours, it's not easy, I have to train for it," she says), the straight-talking mother-of-two has nearly completed her autobiography ("I've just basically laid out my emotional, musical journey"), has just started a fruit farm ("Just basics at the moment, apples and pears, plums, blueberries, blackberries, very, very English sort of stuff.") and can often be spotted paragliding.

Then there's the Aikido, a type of martial art, that Elkie has practised for the last 20 years. "It's a very devastating martial art if done properly," says Elkie, a black belt first dan. "It's about controlling the opposition."

I told you few would argue with her.

Elkie comes to Millfield Theatre next week where she will perform all her favourite hits including Lilac Wine, Sunshine After The Rain, Fool (If You Think It’s Over) and Pearl’s A Singer.

“I’ve had to work really, really hard, and still am working hard, to get on in this world,“ she says, “I’ve been through hell and back but I’m still here!“

Elkie Brooks is at Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton on April 18 at 8pm. Details: 020 8807 6680