LAST seen in 2004 having “seen the light” and gone to live in a French convent, “tart-with-a-heart” Lily Savage seemed consigned to showbiz history.

Her come-back – on stage in Southampton, disguised by mourning clothes and shielded by a black brolly – saw the Mayflower audience erupt into spontaneous applause and laughter as she uttered two words: “Come again?”

Once again producers Michael Rose and Chris Moreno have dug deep for a lavish Christmas production to rival all, but when you have a star like Lily on board the spectacle and wizardry can almost pale into insignificance!

This is a show with plenty of wow factor – not least the life-like robotic elephants and the incredible flying carpet which takes Aladdin across the auditorium.

But I found myself eagerly anticipating each of Lily’s returns to the stage, be it to titter at her costumes or laugh at her riotously funny turn of phrase and caustic humour, often laden with mischievous sexual innuendo and delivered with impeccable comic timing.

We have become so accustomed to seeing Paul O’Grady the chat show host and TV presenter in recent years it is easy to forget what a brilliant piece of characterisation Lily is, who manages to take off everyone from Madonna to Marline Dietrich whilst remaining a Scouser!

S Club 7 member Jon Lee is well cast as Aladdin who romances Princess Jasmine (Marissa Dunlop) singing a beautiful duet from the dress circle.

The show dazzles with big theatrical song and dance numbers but the up-to-date pop – Take That’s Shine is the uplifting crowd pleaser.

Catch this show whilst you can, tickets are selling out fast.