I can do a stage show and a radio show... and be a mum!

SHE IS sensational on stage, a whirlwind of energy. Yet when Fleur East was offered the starring role in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, her initial reaction was to turn it down.

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"I saw Karis Anderson as Tina and told my husband there is no way I can do this," Fleur, 37, tells me.

"He said, 'Why are you talking yourself out of it?' I said, I've never done musical theatre before. He replied, 'Well why not do it?'

"In the end, the regret of not trying was stronger than my fear of failure.

"I always think, 'Am I good enough to do that?' There's a journey to get to the point that I go for it. I'm a girl from Walthamstow, London E17, I'd never dreamt of being in the West End..."

And yet here she is - a commanding presence, belting out classic songs like Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High, and taking us through Tina's heartbreaking lows and heartwarming highs.

Rehearsals for the long-running production were understandably intense.

"Six weeks of singing and dancing all day, learning the script, blocking, stage combat...

"There's a lot involved. There are 25 scenes and I'm off stage for one of them. Most costume changes happen on stage, but it's so much fun!

"It's surreal. Sometimes I forget I'm me. I become Tina in the moment."

Watching Fleur on stage, you might struggle to believe she was once a shy child.

"Mum and dad had loads of parties at home and they would make me get up and sing.

"I used to dread it. I had butterflies in my stomach all day. I hated it. I liked singing in my bedroom, but even in front of family friends I'd sometimes have to face the wall."

Home was a modest two-bedroom East London terrace where Fleur shared a bedroom with younger sister Keshia.

Her father Malcolm had an unusual way of keeping his daughters fit.

"Dad would make us do ten push-ups as soon as we got of bed - before breakfast, before we'd even brushed our teeth. He would say, 'Go on then, give me ten'."

So was he ex-army?