"I could be a tour guide!" jokes Sam Bailey as she returns to the North East this week as part of the cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
The singer, who is all set for for Thursday's opening night at Sunderland Empire where the lavish new production of the fairytale musical will run until February 19, knows the region well and she loves it.
Long before she shot to fame on winning The X Factor back in 2013, Sam, who was brought up in a musical family, played the North East in her early band days while more recent appearances have included Sage Gateshead and 2017's Newcastle Pride festival.