IT’S now or never for a North-East Elvis impersonator, after he landed the gig to star as ‘the King’ in the official tribute act of Presley’s old record label.

Mark Elvis Nixon, who added his middle name by deed poll aged 17, is set to tour the world fronting the newly revived RCA Band from early next year.

But the 22-year-old was far from ‘All Shook Up’ at the news, as he has been an Elvis fanatic since childhood.

“I grew up with Elvis,” the former Deerness Valley Comprehensive School pupil said.

“My dad’s a big fan. He’s got all the original LPs.

“I was the only kid in school who liked the 50s and 60s music. I always got called Elvis.”

Mark’s first Elvis performance came in a school Christmas show.

“I loved it,” he said, speaking from home in Ushaw Moor, County Durham.

“I’ve always enjoyed performing. I always wanted to be the centre of attention. It became a tradition that if there was a school show, I’d do Elvis.”

Mark studied at New College Durham and then worked as a holiday rep in Mallorca, where he started singing professionally and eventually made it his full-time job.

While away, he performs seven nights a week – with women regularly throwing their underwear at him on stage.

“In Magaluf last year, a woman came up and gave me a pair of French knickers with her number on,” he recalled.

“In Ferryhill, I was playing a pensioners’ Christmas party when a woman took her bra off and threw it at me.”

Mark’s invitation to join the RCA Band came following a gig in Sheffield.

“It was a big surprise. I was more than happy,” he said.

Mark will return to the Balearics for seven months in April, before starting rehearsals for his new act in 2014.

Before then, he will sing at Langley Park Workingmen’s Club on Friday (March 22) in aid of the Carers’ Trust and Ushaw Moor Catholic Club on Easter Saturday in aid of cerebral palsy sufferer Finlay Hope.

For more information, visit markelvisnixon.co.uk