ALEXANDRA Burke offers up a personal tale that shines a very bright light on the singer’s professional career.

When she’s at home with partner Josh Ginnelly after a show , the one-time X Factor winner reveals they don’t speak at all.

In fact, she won’t say a word for ten hours straight.

So how do they communicate? Post It notes on the fridge? Sign language?

“We text each other,” says, smiling.

“We can be sitting right next to each other on the sofa and we’re texting little messages. It’s quite mad but it has to be done.”

The singer adds; “I don’t speak from the moment I go out the stage door.after a performance.

“Then when I get home I steam my throat. And it works. “My mum (Melissa Bell, who was in R&B band Soul II Soul in the early nineties) told me to look after my voice and I realise now she was so right.”

Alex’s vow of silence shows a level of commitment to work some would scoff at. But it’s paying off.

Next week, the singer who grew up in Islington is set to star at the Theatre Royal in The Bodyguard, the musical based on the 1992 film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.

This is her second time in the role of the singing diva who comes to want more from her bodyguard than protection.

Since first appearing two years ago, Alex has landed back-to-back West End starring roles in Sister Act: The Musical, Chess and Chicago, in which she played Roxie Hart.

And along the way she found time to appear in Strictly, coming second to Scots actor Joe McFadden.

“I should take a break,” she says, smiling, “but it’s hard to say no when you’re offered the work.

“At the same time, I want to make sure I have a life. It’s hard.”

And along the way she also made a new album.

But did Alex have reservations about going back into The Bodyguard after her stint two years ago?

Was there a sense of dull routine, less of a challenge?

“It’s a fair question but on returning to The Bodyguard the truth is I couldn’t remember a word of the script.

“I had no recollection at all. I guess it’s because I was downloading the lines to be able to take on the next role.

“Yet, in a way that’s really good because it meant I wasn’t coming back with a sense of complacency. I’m really fresh and I’m really excited.”

Alex adds; “What’s also interesting is my take on life is so different since that time.

The singer has suffered in the past from self-esteem issues to the point she took off to New York to take a lifestyle course.

It helped. But what has also impacted hugely in her life is meeting the love of her life.

Alex met her fiancé, stage manager Josh Ginnelly during the 2016 tour of The Bodyguard.

The pair didn’t speak for six months; they were both shy.

Eventually she asked him out for a drink.

“It’s great in that we’re working together again,” she says with real excitement in her voice.

“ This show is really his baby because he’s opened it worldwide, taken it to so many countries such as Korea, China and Canada.”

There’s a sense Alexandra Burke takes on back-to-back roles because she still has so much to prove to herself.

She didn’t train in musical theatre. The singer has developed the skills along the way.

“I never take anything for granted,” she admits.

“I don’t think for a minute I’m a theatre star. I’ve only done the four shows.”

Four West End shows is a fantastic achievement.

“Well, yes, I guess. What I do know is that when I go out there on stage I put my all into it.”

Alex has had to deal with detractors along the way. When she appeared on Strictly just weeks after her mother died a social media storm blew up.

She also had to contend with scathing comments from a tabloid writer.

““I’m a firm believer in God. And all I can do is wish that one journalist the best. But I don’t understand why someone would be so negative when there are real problems in the world.”

Alex adds; “Having said that, I would speak to him if I saw him. I’d want to ask how he would want to hurt people.”

There’s much more a buoyancy in her voice these days.

Alexandra Burke has developed the tools to survive in the business.

“As I’m speaking to you I realise I should be proud of myself in what I’ve achieved. I really should give myself a pat on the back.”

The Bodyguard, the Theatre Royal, December 3-29.