Music review: Susan Boyle, The Ten Tour, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

A decade on from her iconic Britain’s Got Talent audition, Susan Boyle is still endearing herself to audiences with her everywoman story. Indeed, such is the enduring myth of her seemingly unlikely propulsion to fame that when she left the stage at the end of this show’s first half, her backing singers closing out a rendition of Coldplay’s Fix You, an overcome audience member rose in the stalls to belt out her own version.

Susan Boyle's "Ten Tour" marks ten years since she got her big break on Britain's Got Talent. PIC: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Susan Boyle: The Ten Tour, Usher Hall, Edinburgh ***

She may lack the practised stagecraft of some of her chart-topping peers, but Boyle has abundant enthusiasm and desire to entertain, not to mention an impish sense of humour that occasionally shines through.

She shared a few duets, most notably with fellow Scottish Britain’s Got Talent alumnus and support act Jai McDowall (looking considerably more clean-cut, scrubbed-up and suited and booted than his 2011 television breakthrough) on numbers like Phantom of the Opera’s All I Ask Of You. These collaborations generally brought out the best in her, affording her moments out of the spotlight to recharge for another lusty burst. However, the effect on Chess’ I Know Him So Well was to draw attention to the inconsistency of her voice when set against that of her backing retinue.

Still, it’s Boyle who retains the star power as demonstrated by aspirational standbys like Over The Rainbow, Something Inside So Strong and, of course, I Dreamed a Dream, which veritably took the roof off.