Beverley Knight

As one of the undisputed queens of British soul prepares to drop new album The Fifth Chapter, the singer, actor and TV star reflects on the artists that inspired her and how her musical debut in The Bodyguard changed her life

- NICK REILLY

Who were the Black British female singers you took inspiration from when you were thinking about starting a career in music?

Mica Paris, of course. I [remember thinking], 'She is the best thing I've ever heard from this country, hands down.' There was also Caron Wheeler, who was part of the Soul II Soul collective. Before both of those women was Jaki Graham. She was someone I could see on TV as a young child. Seeing her in Wolverhampton town centre was a real watershed moment for me. I was only about 11 or something. I went up to her and I said, "Can I have your autograph, please?" That world became close to me. And I knew I could do it.

A lot of artists struggle to listen back to their early material. What is your response when you revisit your debut album The B-Funk?