ALEXANDRA BURKE is set to make a return to the North-East as Rachel Marron in the award-winning blockbuster musical The Bodyguard next month.

X Factor winner Alexandra previously wowed Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences when she previously performed the role to packed crowds during the musical’s run in 2015 and received praise for her performance as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act in 2017.

Most recently, Alexandra has appeared as Svetlana in Chess at the London Coliseum and can currently be seen as Roxie in Chicago at the West End’s Phoenix Theatre.

Last year she reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing and in 2008 her debut single Hallelujah reached number one and sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard, the musical tells the story of former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.

The Northern Echo:

Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.

Burke says: "I think what’s really exciting about the show is that it includes Whitney Houston’s catalogue of work which really makes the show. It takes me back to when I was a child and had a hairbrush in my hand and was always singing Whitney to my Mum. For me, the storyline never gets old.

"This show is my dream, you can’t beat the adrenaline of the end of the show when it hits the finale and everyone is on their feet, that feeling of knowing everyone has enjoyed the show."

Directed by Thea Sharrock with book by Oscar winning (Birdman) Alex Dinelaris, The Bodyguard had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End in 2012 and was nominated for four Olivier Awards.

A sell out 18 month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre. The Bodyguard has also played all over the world and can currently be seen in Stuttgart.

The Bodyguard plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday, July 23 until Saturday, August 3 2019. Tickets priced from £22.50 available online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

Note: Alexandra Burke is scheduled to perform the role of Rachel Marron at all evening performances only.