Craig’s Sister Act superstar

WHAT’S ON EDITOR GORDON BARR CHATS TO CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD AHEAD OF SISTER ACT’S RUN AT THE THEATRE ROYAL NEWCASTLE

THEY are rivals when it comes to the TV ratings, but Craig Revel Horwood has admitted he has much to thank Simon Cowell for.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig is chuffed to bits that a former Cowell protégé is doing the business for him away from the TV.

Alexandra Burke, who won The X Factor in 2008, is starring as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, which is directed and choreographed by Horwood, and is at the Theatre Royal Newcastle from June 19 to 24.

It’s Craig’s latest ‘actor-muso’ production and he is thrilled to have Alexandra as his leading lady.

“Our Deloris is an absolute sensation,” he tells me. “I can only thank Simon Cowell for delivering these wonderful singers to my doorstep, saves me audition money. I can use X Factor as my audition platform and pick and choose people from that,” he laughs.

“Those talent shows are fantastic for delivering this type of talent and Alexandra has a wonderful future and career ahead of her.

“People don’t really know her as an actress. Yes, she’s done The Bodyguard, but this is a completely different type and style of acting.

“This is a comedy role, where you have to have completely brilliant instinct and timing. You have to be a genuine actor. It can’t be done by numbers, you can’t be taught how to do it. She had delivered so much of herself to the role and her fun side and made the Deloris character absolutely charming.

“People go out loving her. You have to be honest and real and Alex does that brilliantly. It’s wonderful to watch, just seeing a superstar born. This part is as though it has been written for her.”

Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a