After being judged by Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on X Factor, appearing in Fame – the musical at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre is a breeze for Beverley Trotman.

“There were times on X Factor when I was about to walk onto the stage and would stop breathing I was so nervous,” says the mother- of-two.

“Nothing compares to it and after battling through to the finals you feel like you can do anything.”

The primary school teacher wowed viewers with her gospel singing, but it wasn’t enough to save her from the boot in the show’s final weeks.

Instead, Beverley had to watch as Leon, Rhydian and Same Difference battled it out in the final, but the 38-year-old from Luton isn’t bitter.

“I wasn’t too disheartened at being voted off as I knew I had talent and somebody would give me a chance,” says Beverley

“Fame is a wonderful musical and it is my first time acting so it’s very different from my job as a school teacher.

“As a teacher I was used to caring for young children but now I’m working with people aged over 16, so it is a totally different experience for me.”

Fame opened at the Grand Theatre last night and will be at Birmingham’s Hippodrome Theatre in May.

Beverley is aunt to West Bromwich Albion’s injured centre back Leon Barnett, but he was unable to make it to the Grand to watch her – he was instead watching his team get thrashed by Manchster United at the Hawthorns. Beverley’s role in Fame came about after she turned up at an open audition and was called back in the next day to be offered the part.

“I play the role of English teacher Miss Sherman who believes that dancing, singing and acting is great, but students have to work hard on the academic subjects,” she says.

“She knows that some of the youngsters will not make it as something big – they need to have doors open to them so they can do other things. I feel the same as Miss Sherman as I always wanted to be a singer but I had the back-up of my teaching experience.”

Beverley is travelling the country with Fame until July, which means having to spend time away from her husband Jonathan and children Tianna, 13 and Luke, 11.

She is now focused on the future and having originally decided to take a year out of teaching to try and make it in showbiz, she now sees her future as a singer.

“The rehearsals for the show were long but now we usually have the day to ourselves and have to be at the theatre for 6pm,” she says. “Singing every day is a great way to make a living – for me it is a dream come true.”

* Fame – the Musical is at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre until Saturday and at Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre from May 4 to 9.