WITH her red hair and her Liverpool roots, Victoria Jones is often compared to Cilla Black, the legendary singer and presenter.

This autumn she will reprise her role in Cilla and the Shades of the 60s which will show at the Albert Halls next month.

She together with Eloise Tasker, Joanna Walters and Chanelle Nicole as The Shades, will through music, song, dance, and witty comedy take the audience on a musical journey starting with the discovery of the teenage Cilla at Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club.

Featured will be some of the biggest hits by artists who changed the world of popular entertainment in the 1960s including Cilla, Dusty, Lulu, Tina Turner, the Beatles and more.

Victoria said: "When I was growing up in Liverpool I loved watching Cilla on TV but it wasn’t till later that I discovered her music ­— and wow, I was hooked!

"I was thrilled by her vocal range; her ballads are beautiful and she gave every song an emotional depth that was completely new to me as a budding singer.

"She really inspired me to develop my voice and my performance.

“I love performing in this show and I feel so lucky and proud to be associated with Cilla.

"Cilla became a huge star at an incredibly new and exciting time for popular music; she was a trailblazer ­— she became the first woman to have her own television show and she remained relevant to generations of people.

"This show gives me the opportunity of celebrating the sound and fashion of a generation of amazing women."

She added: "We always have a great time onstage ­— I guarantee lots of great music and a lorra lorra laughs! We even have a ‘Blind Date’ section involving a member of the audience!"

By the time Cilla was 21 she was working with Beatles’ producer George Martin and was at number one with "You’re My World" and "Anyone Who Had A Heart". She was Britain’s number one female singer during the 1960s and subsequently became the most popular TV presenter with her own show "Cilla" which ran 1966-1978 and "Blind Date" which ran for a record breaking 18 years.

Victoria said: "When I travel around the country being a red headed Scouser I always get compared to Cilla... or Sheridan Smith! I do feel a connection there, she too was a bold girl from a working class background who just loved to perform. She really made huge changes for women back in the 60s. She could take on The Beatles, beat the big American stars with songs like Alfie, host her own TV show and made every 'normal' girl feel like big things were possible.

"I've always adored 60s music; the songs of that era had such a raw sound which I love.

"I really think I was born in the wrong decade! Performing as Cilla gives me the opportunity to celebrate the fashion and sound of a generation of women who were beginning to make a real difference in the music industry and across the world. The Shades are all so talented so it's great to share a stage with them. We all have great energy and chemistry together on stage and off."

She said the biggest audience reaction she gets is for "You're My World".

"I'm really looking forward to the tour as I can do what I love doing while being on the road with some of my closest friends," said Victoria, "We had an absolute blast last year when we did the first tour and honestly, it’s been my favourite job since I started singing professionally!"

She concluded: "Each song is a pleasure to perform, I don't just feel like a singer, I get the opportunity to use my acting skills too. And of course it’s fantastic playing for audiences in different towns and cities, we really do have a lot of fun on tour."

Cilla and The Shades of the 60s takes to the stage at the Albert Halls Bolton on October 2 at 7.30pm.

For tickets visit http://www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk/