Alexandra Burke leads Bodyguard tour

Alexandra Burke will reprise the role of Rachel Marron in the upcoming UK tour of WhatsOnStage Award-winning musical The Bodyguard.

Burke, who rose to fame after winning The X Factor in 2008, was the last person to play Marron at the West End's Adelphi Theatre.

"I couldn't be happier to be joining the tour and I'm excited to get started," she said. "Being on the theatre stage has brought me great happiness. It is an honour to have been asked to join the team and I look forward to creating new and long lasting memories with the cast."

Inspired by the 1992 Oscar nominated movie of the same name, The Bodyguard traces the story of Rachel Marron, played on screen by Whitney Houston, as a young pop star who hires a body guard, played by Kevin Costner, to protect her from a mysterious stalker.

The stage version, which won Best New Musical at the 2013 WhatsOnStage Awards, features Houston hits including "One Moment in Time", "Saving All My Love", "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "I Will Always Love You".

Thea Sharrock's production will open on 12 February 2015 at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, with the tour continuing until 2 January 2016 at the Manchester Palace Theatre.

Burke will appear at all evening performances, with the role taken at matinees by Zoe Birkett (Thriller Live, Pop Idol).

Further casting is still to be announced.