Brenda Edwards: 'I still get nervous on stage'

Brenda Edwards has been playing Mama Morton for nearly two decades

Singer Brenda Edwards said she still gets nervous when she performs on stage.

The Loose Women panellist is part of the UK and Ireland tour of the show Chicago which started in Milton Keynes on 12 October.

Edwards is from Luton, a short drive from the Buckinghamshire city.

"My daughter was in yesterday, my hands were shaking," she said. "I've played Mama Morton for nearly twenty years... But every night I'm nervous."

"People tell me they're coming to see me but it's almost better if they didn't," she added.

In 2005 Edwards came fourth in the second series of singing reality show The X-Factor.

She recalled: "I thought that was hard but then you go to auditions for the West End and it's just like one in Flashdance.

"You're in a totally dark room, you can hear a voice talking to you, it was quite scary. I came out and had a tear in my eye because I didn't think I did well."

The audition was a success and Edwards was invited to play Mama Morton in her West End debut in 2006.

Brenda Edwards joined Chicago as Mama Morton in 2006 alongside Bonnie Langford as Roxie Hart

"I didn't know what I was doing. You find lots of different ways of playing this role, this time round the directors have picked out different things I didn't think the first, second or third time round.

"The way I sing the songs is different... You can never not learn something new, even if it's the same show."

Brenda Edwards' son Jamal died in 2022

The performer is also a director of The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust, a charity that supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds, founded in memory of her son.

Jamal Edwards, who founded online grim and rap music platform SBTV, died in February 2022.

She said: "It's going really well, we just received a grant from Chelsea Football Club for £1m, the biggest they've ever given."

"It's been really busy, I'm very proud of the legacy my son left and that I get to continue his good work, unlocking self belief and helping."

Chicago started it's UK tour in Milton Keynes theatre on 12 October

Despite her nerves the singer said she has no plans to stop playing the character.

"I like to think I give it my all every single night.

"As long as they have me I'll play it. I'm grateful they asked me."