It’s five years since Susan Boyle found instant fame on TV’s Britain’s Got Talent and it has taken all that time for her to find the confidence to stage a full tour of the UK.
Reviews from the shows so far suggest the singer, who silenced Simon Cowell with her powerful, heart-stopping voice, is doing a grand job in concert, and only a handful of tickets are still available.
She tested the water with some home shows in her native Scotland last summer.
“After the success of Scotland I’m ready to take the next step and take my show to a whole host of towns and cities I have never played in before,” said Susan, ahead of the tour. “I’ve always wanted to do my own show and after the reception I received in Scotland I cannot wait to get back on stage,” added the 53-year-old who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome two years ago.
Having sold in excess of 20 million records worldwide and stormed to the top of the charts in more than 30 countries, her live repertoire draws heavily on familiar tracks from her four albums.
These include fan favourites like her dazzling version of I Dreamed A Dream – the song from the musical Les Miserables that she chose for her first BGT audition – her take on the Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and River Deep, Mountain High. But she has also slipped in other personal choices and a few spectacular surprises to keep things fresh.
“I’ve chosen some of my favourite songs from past albums and also new songs that not only have I wanted to perform for years but resonate with me and I hope my fans will love,” she added.
“I’m really very excited; the show will be bigger and better than before.”
These shows build on a host of new achievements in recent times. Last year she had her first movie role in The Christmas Candle and also became the first Brit to be allowed to duet with Elvis posthumously.
Only a very few tickets remain for Susan Boyle's Plymouth Pavilions concerts at Plymouth Pavilions on Saturday, April 12 and Princess Theatre, Torquay, on Sunday, April 13.