Beverley's Knight to remember in Bodyguard at the West End

Emeli Sande shook her head in disbelief. Mel C couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

All of these girls can hold a tune – but none a candle to Our Bev.

Wolverhampton's finest brought the house down last night in front of a star-studded audience at London's Adelphi Theatre. As well as the aforementioned divas, Strictly's Brendan, Camilla and Sophie Ellis Bextor were there, as were Matt Cardle and Leslie Joseph.

But there was only one person Beverley had her eye on – former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.

"Yay, Mick was on the front row," she told the Express & Star after the curtain fell. He's such a lovely man and I'm Wolves-obsessed so it was good to have him here given his history. We need our boys back up."

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But what about the show Bev? You just received a standing ovation from the most discerning of West End crowds.

"I'm still a little hyper. I feel great," she says, dressed in a stunning red shirt, leather shorts before heading off to the post-show party. The energy was fantastic, it was quite similar to one of my gigs."

Beverley, whose voice was nurtured in the gospel choirs of Wolverhampton, is stepping out on the stage after more than two decades selling millions of records.

Taking on the role made famous by Whitney Houston, she plays Rachel Marron opposite former Casualty star Tristan Gemmill in The Bodyguard.

"I loved Whitney and the original film but this is not a tribute show, it's a stage show based on the film and we're careful to make that distinction." And how does her co-star feel about witnessing such talent?

" I have the best job in the world," says Tristan. It's an honour to stand there opposite her and just watch and listen."

Beverley, aged 40, gives her co-star a little hug at his kind words, they're clearly great friends. Beverley, who married property developer James O'Keefe in September last year, says she's well and truly caught the West End bug and would love to do more in the future. And a possible trip to Broadway or a remake of the film?

"I wouldn't say no!", she laughs. "We're English! Would they even let that happen?"

"They'd probably get some 12- year-old to play Rachel if there was a remake of the film," adds Tristan. "But they'd never get anyone as good as Bev."

Amen to that. Our girl's done us proud.

Review: The Bodyguard, Adelphi Theatre, London, until March 8.

The standing ovation said it all - and the show hadn't even finished yet.

As Beverley Knight reached the soaring highs of I Will Always Love You, the audience rose to its feet.

There were tears, there were goosebumps, there were stunned faces: all down to the almost other-worldly talent of Ms Knight.

Now, we mean this is the nicest possible way, but the woman's a freak. How can anyone sing so beautifully? So powerfully? With so much soul? No, seriously, how? Someone please tell us because we can't quite believe it.

The show started with a gunshot that scared the crowd half to death and got its attention for the opener, Queen of the Night.

Beverley was fierce and faultless. It was perfection.

There's a few dodgy American accents and slightly strained pieces of dialogue in the first half but all is forgiven when Beverley sings. I Have Nothing, Run To You and One Moment In Time have to be seen to be believed. Quite simply, Bev took us all to church.

There were other superstar singers in the crowd watching, they should have just packed up, gone home and logged on to Fish4Jobs.

By the time the curtain fell on the first act, following that all-important kiss, the audience was breathless.

One of the stand-out moments was the defiant club scene, where Marron goes against her brooding bodyguard's wishes and takes to the stage. Clever lighting and slow-mo effects provide a nice build-up to what we're all waiting for - that famous lift where he carries her to safety. Swoon.

Gemmill is great in his strong-and-silent type role, allowing Beverley to fully shine in the limelight. She's the star and he knows it. A true gent.

Don't think Our Bev's a one-trick pony, mind. Sure, she can sing anyone off the park, look fab in a sparkly dress and get a crowd on its feet, but she can act too. The scene where she cradles her dying sister is truly moving. There were tears both on and off stage. And they were real.

I Will Always Love You is obviously the big finish and sees Beverley propelled to the ceiling in a shimmering gown so that the whole theatre can soak up each blissful note.

It's followed by a frothy and fun encore of I Wanna Dance With Somebody - a number that had an audience of London-tastic celebs dancing and clapping like primary school children after one too many Haribos. There was no room for posing or pretension here; Beverley was singing, and the Queen of the Night must be obeyed.

By Elizabeth Joyce