AFTER many successful years performing around the world as pop sensation Kylie, Victoria Jones has hung up her hot pants in favour of something a little more swinging.

The Liverpudlian lass is taking on the starring role in a new show coming to Minehead - Cilla and the Shades of the 60s.

The show will take audiences on a musical journey through Cilla’s life and some of the biggest chart hits of the era.

Classic hit songs such as Alfie, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Step Inside Love and many more will also celebrate the great songwriting partnerships of the time including Lennon and McCartney.

Victoria Jones will take the audience down memory lane reliving some of the most popular aspects of Cilla’s stellar career such as Blind Date.

So why the change?

Victoria said: "I loved performing as Kylie but for me having grown up in Liverpool there is something really special about performing as Cilla.

"My parents always had music from that generation on in the house so growing up I was surrounded by it.

"I also knew Cilla as a TV presenter because as a teenager I watched Surprise Surprise and Blind Date.

"She's a bit of a national treasure really and is loved by so many people.

"I find her songs so beautiful to perform especially the ballads because there's just such as ambiance around it.

"I love the 60s, my house is full of orange and green and I love the fashion from that generation, I really do think I was born in the wrong decade, so it's just great to be able to perform as Cilla.

"When I dyed my hair red everyone kept saying how much I looked like Cilla and Sheridan Smith and combined with my accent I do get compared a lot."

As well as Cilla's classic hits, the show also features songs from The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Patsy Cline.

Why does Victoria think the music of that time is still so popular today?

She adds: "I think it's because the music back then had such a raw sound with a lot of emotion and feeling.

"A lot of the music today is auto-tuned but they didn't have that luxury in the 60s, it was all done naturally with a lot of instruments.

"It's also a lot of fun music which everyone of any age can get up and dance to."

But the show isn't just all singing and dancing, it also celebrates Cilla's career as a TV presenter and there's even a Blind Date segment in the show which Victoria said it's really good fun for the performers and the audience.

She added: "The show contains a lot of anecdotes about Cilla and the Blind Date section is really fun for us to do so we're hoping that the audience will enjoy it.

"The tour starts later this month in Herefordshire but I'm really looking forward to coming to Minehead.

"I have been there before as I used to perform as Kylie at Butlins and I also have a friend in Minehead so it will be great to be able to catch up with her.

"If you love good live music and want to have a sing and a dance then please come along."

n Cilla and the Shades of the 60s will be coming to the Regal Theatre in Minehead on March 10.

The show takes place at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8 for students and concessions, £15.50 for Friends of the theatre members and £16 standard.

You can book now by visiting regaltheatre.co.uk or by calling 01643 706430.