'I'm a bit of a kid in a candy shop when it comes to music'

Sophie Ellis-Bextor chats to JEFFREY DAVIES about inviting the nation into her kitchen, why she doesn't need to meditate and performing at Glastonbury as she gets ready for her UK tour

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SOPHIE Ellis-Bextor's biggest ever UK headline tour is coming to the West Country in June with a brand new show at the Theatre Royal.

With an impressive musical career that has spanned over 25 years, Sophie has achieved five top 10 albums and eight top 10 singles, with hits including Murder on the Dancefloor, Take Me Home, Get Over You and Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) among many others.

The English singer/songwriter has recently toured sold-out headline shows across Europe and America, supported Nile Rodgers and CHIC, and appeared at festivals across the world, including performing with Peggy Gou during her set at Glastonbury, and following her own set on the legendary Pyramid Stage in 2023.

Most recently, after featuring in the epic final scene of Emerald Fennell's film Saltburn, Sophie's massive and much-loved 2001 hit Murder on the Dancefloor saw a huge resurgence in the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Top 100, reaching over 11 billion global streams across all streaming and social platforms.

"This year has been full of amazing tour dates around the world and it has been so much fun. I absolutely love performing live, but it's always an extra treat to be able to tour at home and I can't wait to play my biggest dates in the UK in May and June. It will be wonderful to bring my disco fun to everyone. And headlining The Royal Albert Hall in London is a bit of a dream and it's going to be very special," Sophie assures me with a smile.

So what will the "disco queen" be offering West Country audiences this time around?