SING US AN OL’ FASHIONED LOVE SONG

I am waiting for my interviewees in The Wharf Restaurant on London's Southbank. I have already walked past a smattering of paparazzi bustling about the exit of the This Morning studios, and I suspect they are here for the same people. The doors of the restaurant open. There is a collective (female) intake of breath as five men stroll in, each one more immaculately dressed than the last.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is The Overtones. And if you haven't heard of them already, you soon will. Ever since they serenaded the nation with a stint as the house band on last year's Dancing On Ice, their career has gone from strength to strength. They performed a sold-out tour to universally rapturous reviews. Their album has gone platinum. What's more, Mike, Darren, Mark, Timmy and Lachie are just about the nicest men in music.

It is hard to believe this dapper group had such humble beginnings: their bespoke suits have only recently replaced overalls. Four of them had been friends for years after meeting on the performing circuit in London. Determined to make it in the music industry, they decided to set up a painting and decorating business so they could work and rehearse together.

'We were practising in our tea break when a lady walked past,' explains Darren, a disconcertingly chiselled Londoner. 'She asked a few questions, gave us her card and rang a week later.' The boys were told to learn a few songs and given an address. 'We turned up to find ourselves singing to the big wigs at Warner Records.'

The group had previously auditioned for The X Factor and made it down to the final 50, only to be unceremoniously dropped, like so many other hopefuls. 'It was an experience – but one that obviously didn't work out for us,' says Timmy. He is the blue-eyed, blond Irishman who provides the band's lead vocals; in line with The Overtones's theme, he is a sophisticated version of a boy-band pin-up. 'Being rejected made us work even harder. We recognise that talent shows work out for some people but we're really proud that we've made it another way.'

Part of their success is down to acquiring a fifth member. 'I basically headhunted Lachie,' announces Timmy proudly. 'Lachie has an amazing bass voice,' adds Darren. 'When we heard him sing we knew that was it. He was the missing link.'

'Awww! That and my impressive bowtie collection. That really sealed the deal,' deadpans Lachie, before roaring with laughter.

His band mates describe him as a 'larger- than-life' character and he certainly comes across that way. This chatty Australian prefixes every sentence with that effusive 'Awww', and he has the kind of smile that lights up a room. His bass voice has to be heard to be believed: it is, in fact, akin to Barry White at his most sonorous.

That is what makes The Overtones so captivating. In an industry full of confection and contrivance, they are very much the real deal. Their songs are reminiscent of a bygone era, combining the upbeat vibe of the doo-wop genre with a more contemporary vocal harmony sound.

'We've got five voices that range from falsetto all the way down to the middle harmonies and the bass,' explains Mark, a softly-spoken former dancer from Manchester, 'so it makes sense that we would approach our songs in that way.'

Their album Good Ol' Fashioned Love is a belting collection of both classic numbers and originals written by the boys themselves. Says Timmy: 'I love singing the old classics, like Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, because they're always real showstoppers. But hearing people sing your own lyrics back to you? That's an incredible feeling.'

The Overtones are known for their personal performances and are determined that it will remain their trademark. 'That's something we're never going to stop striving for,' states the perfectly-coiffed Mike, a handsome Bristolian. 'Any show we do, even if in a few years we're in a huge stadium, we'll always work for that intimate, up-close performance. We want everyone to feel like they're getting their own show.'

And what sort of people come to their shows? 'The majority of our fans are women,' smiles Timmy. No surprises there. 'But we get plenty of husbands coming along. It's great to see the big blokes who fancy themselves as a bit of a crooner singing along. They love the music.'

In the manner of all the great crooners, their music is irrepressibly uplifting. 'Just to know that you're part of something that makes a lot of people so happy – that's a really nice feeling. We hear stories of our album being passed around the family, going from daughter to mother to granny to old Uncle Bob, who's always been a Sinatra fan.' Indeed, the cross-generational appeal of their music really became apparent when they performed at Proms In The Park last year. 'That was a definite pinchyourself moment,' beams Mark. 'To see all those families jump up and start dancing while we were singing. We were so excited we were having our own little party on stage, regardless of the 45,000 people enjoying the music!'

Such a large audience is only the beginning for these boys. 'There is no specific goal other than longevity,' remarks Mike. 'We all want to have a career doing what we love. If in 10 years we're still around, and getting more popular, we'll be happy.'

They have already started writing for the new album, and this year they will tour Europe, as well as visit Lachie's old stomping ground in Australia. They need new passports to accommodate all this jetsetting: 'Will I be able to keep my cravat on for the passport photo?' asks Mike.

It is rare to find charisma without a hint of an ego, but that is the only way to describe The Overtones. There is none of the demanding behaviour typical of the industry, and they even insist on helping to carry the camera equipment when we head outside for a photoshoot. It is near freezing but they remain cheery pose after pose, all the while commenting on the beautiful weather. Lachie just shrugs when asked if they are always like this.

'We just feel we've been dealt a really lucky hand. We've been passed the ball and we're running with it.

' Singing aside, it would be hard not to delight in their company. There is a lot of affection between them, apparent even in their frequent ribbing of each other. 'We would never have got to this point if we weren't the best of friends,' says Darren in a moment of seriousness.

'As a four we had been through so much, and then Lachie came and fitted in perfectly. He's amazing and it just works.'

They all nod their heads in solemn agreement before erupting into laughter again. They are, of course, men – they can't get too soppy.

The Overtones's new single, Say What I Feel, is available to buy on 6 February.