Jonathan Ansell, 27, shot to fame as the high tenor in G4, X Factor’s operatic sensation. The quartet sold more than 1.5 million albums before calling it a day in 2007. The Bognor-raised singer has since released two solo albums, the most recent earning a Classical Brit nomination.

Today, he will join 47 fellow aviators in throwing himself from Worthing Pier in an attempt to fly more than 100 metres and win the £30,000 jackpot in the Worthing Birdman competition.

He is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care and is raising money for the charity in his attempt. Visit www.justgiving.com/ jonathanansell to support Jonathan.

When did you first decide to take part in the Worthing Birdman?

At the New Year. I’ve watched it for years, growing up in Bognor, where it used to be until the pier shrunk! It was always a great family day out, so it’s great to get the chance to jump off and do my bit for charity.

And the cause is close to your heart...

Yes, I lost my dad’s twin sister, my aunt, about five years ago to breast cancer and she was helped loads by the charity, not just herself, but her family. That’s what’s great about the charity. We’re doing a carol concert at St Paul’s Cathedral as well, which is what I do, but then there’s also jumping off a pier – the diversity’s great fun.

Are you going to be wearing a daft costume?

We’re in discussions with the costume designers behind Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, which makes me a little bit dubious, but it’s going to be something very striking, very pink and very stupid, which it what Birdman’s all about.

Is there a performer who made you think “I want to do that?”

Definitely The Three Tenors and people like Michael Ball.

My mum had their CDs and I loved listening and singing along. But I also remember seeing Robbie Williams perform at a massive outside venue with thousands of people and he was just leading the crowd in this exuberant way.

I thought: “Wow, I would love to stand in front of a crowd like that”. It’s bizarre that I’ve had the chance to.

Do you remember the first record you bought?

It was Tubthumping by Chumbawamba from the local record shop in Bognor.

I remember dancing like a nutter to it quite a lot.

Tell us about any guilty pleasures lurking in your CD or film collections.

I’ve got the odd Westlife track, which sounds really bad. But they’ve got some nice tunes and some really nice moments.

Do you have a favourite film?

The original Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. I used to watch it every single day. Gene Wilder was brilliant. The second one [directed by Tim Burton] was good, but it wasn’t a patch on the original.

Which TV programme couldn’t you live without?

I am absolutely drawn in with every new series of Dragons’ Den – it’s a fantastic show.

Can you still watch shows you’ve been involved with, such as X Factor or Come Dine With Me [Jonathan jointly won a celebrity edition of the show with MC Harvey]?

Yeah, I’m hooked on both. X Factor always drags me in. I love it when you see people like JLS doing so well afterwards. Come Dine With Me seems to be on every channel at the moment, so I’m always watching that.

Do you think people saw another side to you on the show?

I do. I think it was really great to be on a show not singing or being interviewed, and instead letting people see me cock up in the kitchen and set the smoke alarms off.

It was a laugh.

Do you have a favourite album?

I always find John Legend’s first album [Get Lifted] keeps coming out of the CD rack. I’m not as much of a fan of his other stuff, but that first album had some magic about it.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m reading Cityboy: Beer And Loathing In The Square Mile by Geraint Anderson. It’s the real story of an ex-banker who exposes the sordid side of the city. It’s shocking, but very relevant to what’s going on now.

Do you have a favourite book?

A Kestrel For A Knave by Barry Hines [adapted into the Ken Loach film Kes]. We were supposed to read it in school – I watched the film instead because it was easier – but then I found it on my bookshelf years later and read it. It’s just a lovely story.

Is there a live music or theatre experience that stays in your memory?

The first time I went to the West End on a school trip to see Blood Brothers.

I was really excited about it, but I never thought I’d be as moved as I was.

I absolutely fell in love with live theatre and it really stuck with me.