Alexandra Burke launches 'The Bodyguard' musical tour

Alexandra Burke stars as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard - the musical Credit: The Bodyguard, the musical

The singer Alexandra Burke became a household name after winning the fifth series of The X-Factor on ITV in 2008.

Her latest challenge is playing the role of the pop superstar Rachel Marron in the musical version of the film 'The Bodyguard'. The character was made famous by the late Whitney Houston in the 1992 film, which also starred Kevin Costner as her bodyguard.

Alexandra Burke has already played the role for three months on the West End stage in London during 2014, following in the footsteps of singers Heather Headley and Beverley Knight.

Now, the 26-year-old and the rest of the cast are taking the show on the road with the start of the musical's UK regional tour, which launched at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton where it will stay for just over two weeks. Other stops on the tour include The Hawth in Crawley, The Cliffs Pavilion in Southend and The New Theatre in Oxford.

ITV Meridian reporter Nia Mason went to meet Alexandra for an exclusive television interview during the final rehearsals for the start of the regional tour of the UK.