EMPRESS of Soul Gladys Knight is on a seven-date UK tour that includes the Bournemouth International centre tomorrow.

The seven times Grammy winner will be performing all her classic hits – Midnight Train To Georgia (which was voted one of the most famous Motown records to date and was honoured one of The Greatest Songs Of All Time by Rolling Stone), Help Me Make It Through The Night, Licence To Kill (the official theme song to the James Bond film), The Way We Were, Baby Don’t Change Your Mind and You’re The Best Thing (that ever happened to me) – plus tracks from her latest album Where My Heart Belongs.

Knight last toured the UK in 2009 in what was billed as her ‘farewell tour’. It featured Tito Jackson as her supporting act and special appearances by Dionne Warwick.

So far, audiences have been welcoming her back with an instant standing ovation and she herself is clearly loving being back.

At 3.56 yesterday morning – clearly unable to sleep after a euphoric performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall she tweeted: L O N D O N... I’m truly speechless. I am in awe of all of my beautiful #Knights.

#GKUKTour15 @ RoyalAlbertHall. For tickets, call 0844 576 3000.