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After the excitement of our 100th catch-up video special, we're back with another catch-up Q&A, in which Dan gives us an update on the new album's progress and looks forward to the summer shows. As ever, do leave your comments below. 

Hi Dan, how are you?
Very good thanks.

What are you doing today?
We're in the studio. We're in the tracking of the drums stage.

You're getting towards the end?
Nearly, yeah. This last few weeks we've been doing just the first block of five or so songs. They're the ones which will definitely be on the record. Then we'll go back in in a couple of weeks, around the festivals, and we'll do the rest.

Are you pleased with progress so far?
Yeah, we're having a great time. Loving it. It's all quite exciting.

Is the album still on schedule?
Yeah. We're still on target for having it out this year. I just hope there's no major spanner in the works. We've got a great team lined up ready to do it, and the label are very keen and supportive. So we're really happy at the moment.

Has it been different working with a producer?
Well, we've kind of gone back to producing it ourselves at this stage. Bob's still helping us with ideas and things, but from Nashville. We've been sending stuff to him over there. And we've got the boys from the Freemasons working with us as well. They've been with us this week. They're just fantastic producers and programmers.

What are they helping you with?
They've been doing a lot of programming and working on getting the low-end of the songs right. That might sound boring, but it should certainly add an element of excitement to the record.

Does this give an indication of a dancier element to the new record's sound?
No, I wouldn't say it's a dancey record. But it's definitely contemporary. There are a couple of dancier songs, but then our last record had that. I Thought It Was Over was fairly dancey. It's not a major departure from what we've done in the past - but we just wanted to do it better. So, we're working with Bob because he's one of the best rock producers of all time, and we're working with the Freemasons to help make sure the synths and the programming are as good as they can be.

Presumably you were introduced to the Freemasons by Richard's wife, Ms Ellis-Bextor.
Absolutely. They came to the shows that we did at the Water Rats and after that they committed to working with us. So I'm glad we did those shows now!

Are you working with anyone else?
I have been experimenting with a few other people, yeah. Sometimes it's worked out, sometimes it hasn't and sometimes it's led to other things. I did a few days with Cathy Dennis, because she's a fan of the band and I love her writing. That was a really nice experience. So, yeah, we've been doing lots of experimenting.

Is it a case of doing 100 things and hoping five of them work?
It's a bit like that, yeah. And that's how I write when I'm on my own anyway - and the major bulk of stuff on the album was still written on my own. But it's been nice that I can learn and take ideas from other people. Being a writer can be quite a lonely world, so sometimes even just getting a bit of advice from other people who do it can really help.

You chaps played a show at the Crusaid Walk For Life earlier this month. How was that?
It was lovely. We were playing right in front of Tower Bridge, which was nice. It was a great event too. They've been doing it for 21 years now.

Did you do the walk itself?
No, no, no. Don't be silly. We just turned up and played at the end. Although I think I might do it next year if I'm free. It's 10k - a good ol' walk, but not a killer.

And the first of the summer festival gigs is this weekend.
It is - Bay Festival in the Isle of Man. So that should be fun.

Have you been to the Isle of Man before?
I haven't. And I know very little about it. If anything.

Well, they're famous for their cats with no tails.
Really?

Yes. Manx Cats. And the population is only 80,000.
That's quite wee. Hopefully a large majority of them will turn up for the show.

Who else is playing?
It's quite a mix of things. Spandau Ballet are on just after us, which I'm looking forward to. And Calvin Harris, who's great.

And Diversity, the Britain's Got Talent winners.
They're the dancers, right? I haven't really watched any of those shows. Hopefully I'll get to see them.

It'll presumably be nice to play to a big crowd again.
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the whole summer. It'll be nice to get out there and play.

How did your house move go?
Good. It's all happened. The pianos were craned out of my basement and now they're in my new place. It's insane chaos at the moment because I'm having a studio built in there. It's a big job getting it done. but I'm hoping the investment will pay off and it'll eventually be a great base for us.

Did Paul help you smash down that wall in the end?
He did. In fact, two walls. The first one took a while, then the second one took no time at all because we'd learned how to do it. And now I've got a garden full of old wall.

So if the music industry goes belly up, you can be a wall smasher.
Yes, I'm quite good at the general destruction side of things. I like taking things apart. I'm not so good at putting them back together again. We destroyed a load of old decking too.

Right, readers' questions. Darren would like to know if you get nerves and how you overcome them.
I get nervous until I'm on the stage and then I stop being nervous. So I just have to wait. But that waiting around is actually the worst thing. I get a very tired feeling an hour before I'm due on stage. So I try and distract myself with a book, or doing a bit of a warm-up. But as soon as we're on, I really enjoy it.

Next one is from Carol who says you were brilliant at the Audi gig in Montreux, Switzerland recently. What was that about?
Audi have booked us quite a few times for shows, actually. The first one was the polo show we did for the princes. Then we've been playing at their concerts ever since, really. That one was fun.

You can enjoy those corporate shows?
Yeah. We know the people that organise those ones now. They look after us really well and the audience are great. They seem to have a really good time. They have a lovely meal and a few drinks, then we're the entertainment. With some corporate shows it can be a bit dry and boring, but their crowds definitely know how to party!

Final question is from Sharon who asks whether the album will be out soon. Which essentially gives us the chance to push you for a vague date.
The autumn, I think. And over the summer you might start hearing the odd bit on the radio. Although it is up to the record company too. All we do is create the music and give it to them, then they make a game plan on when it's good to get it out.

But, it's on its way.
It definitely is! And it's sounding a lot better than it would've done if we'd released it a year ago.