YOU will be seeing more of Alexandra Burke at the Leeds Grand Theatre when she plays disco diva turned nun Deloris Van Cartier in Craig Revel Horwood's all-new production of the divine musical comedy Sister Act from August 22 to 27.

Hallelujah for that news, on the evidence of her burning hot lead performance in The Bodyguard. Hallelujah too that she is so much better than her chart-topping resurrection of Leonard Cohen's signature song after winning the fifth series of The X Factor.

One more Hallelujah, if I may. Hallelujah that Alexandra Burke far surpasses the last pop star to come Yorkshire's way as the star attraction in a show: Pixie Lott, whose acting amounted to not a Lott as Holly Golightly in a far from filling Breakfast At Tiffany's at the Leeds Grand last month.

You might argue that Miss Lott had the harder task in a flat, disappointing play with only a few songs to plain guitar accompaniment, but Alexandra Burke has big shoes to fill in taking on Whitney Houston's role and stellar songs in this dazzling musical version of Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 film.

Everything about this musical has a swaggering confidence, from the moment Burke's soul superstar Rachel Marron enters to the accompaniment of flames licking the Leeds night air; you would swear fire could have emerged from her mouth, given how fiery her singing was from start to finish.

York Press:

Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron. Picture: Uli Weber

She can move, she can groove; she can be sassy, funny and romantic; she can do pathos and tears; she can play the diva; she can sustain an American accent; she can even cope with a bloke near the front shouting out "Come on Alexandra" in the solitude of the second half's opening ballad.

Like Beverley Knight before her, Alexandra Burke has made the move into musicals with elan; she could not look more at home than taking charge of the Leeds Grand stage with a powerhouse voice that revels in not only Whitney's whoppers, Saving All My Love, I Wanna Dance With Somebody et al, but also the spectacular likes of I'm Every Woman.

Significantly too, she may lead the show with her show-stopping singing, but she handles the drama and moments of humour and tension well too, working most appealingly with Stuart Reid's by-the-book bodyguard, Frank Farmer.

The show is not afraid to glory knowingly in the cheesiness of the storyline of Rachel being harassed by a stalker with a six-pack body (Matthew Stathers), while giving Dirty Dancing and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert a run for their money in the camp stakes. How else could it end but with I Will Always Love You, although nothing could prepare you for quite how the inexhaustible Miss Burke would take it to new heights.

The Bodyguard is a blast; Alexandra Burke is a hot ticket, and ladies, even your men will enjoy it.

The Bodyguard, The Musical, Leeds Grand Theatre, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm, Wenesday and Saturday. Box office: 0844 848 2700 or leedsgrandtheatre.com