Say You Wanna Dance! X Factor's Alexandra Burke Will Step into West End's The Bodyguard

The X Factor victor and three-time Brit nominee Alexandra Burke will step into the role of Rachel Marron, the role originated on stage by Heather Headley, in the West End musical The Bodyguard. Burke will begin performances on June 2. Current Rachel Beverley Knight will play her final performance on May 31 and British TV and stage star Tristan Gemmill will continue in the role as Rachel’s bodyguard, Frank Farmer. The production runs through August 30 at the Adelphi Theatre.

Burke rose to fame after winning the fifth season of The X Factor. Her debut number one single, “Hallelujah,” sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for any British female soloist. With Burke’s first album, Overcome , came two subsequent number one singles: “Bad boys” and “Start Without You.” Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, released in June 2012 and her third will release later this year.

The Bodyguard, based on the 1992 Oscar-nominated film, tells the story of former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer (Gemmill), who is hired to protect pop star Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. The Bodyguard features some of Whitney Houston’s greatest hit songs including “Queen of the Night,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You.” The musical is directed by Thea Sharrock.