Flashback to 2008: Newly-wed Jodie heads back into the spotlight

But for actress Jodie Lawson it was back to the spotlight the very next night as she took to the stage at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre with 120 guests and her new husband in the audience.

The 27-year-old tied the knot with army sergeant husband Craig Turner on the Saturday but was determined to appear in the final performance of touring show That’ll Be The Day the next night.

Well-wishers who saw the couple marry at St Benedict Biscop Church in Wombourne were there to cheer Jodie on.

And Craig, 28, was also called up on to the stage to rapturous applause as Jodie showed off her wedding ring.

She had been touring the country for six months with the rock ’n’ roll show as one of its lead vocalists.

The former Smestow School pupil, whose family lived in Wombourne, told the Express & Star at the time: “The show was in Birmingham on Saturday which worked out perfectly because it meant some of the cast were staying in the Himley Country Hotel which is where we were.

“I have done 80 shows since I joined in January but the nerves came back before I went out in front of my friends and family.

“The cast have become like a second family to me and so I couldn’t think of a better way of celebrating.

“Craig and I are going off on honeymoon for three weeks while we prepare for the next run so it’s a perfect time for me to take a break.”

The happy couple, who got together as childhood sweethearts in 1995 and held their reception at Wombourne Civic Centre, were going to Walt Disney World in Florida before returning home to Middlesex.

Craig, who served with the Royal Logistics Corps, was on a two-year posting as a permanent staff instructor with the Territorial Army based in London.

In the audience was Jodie’s grandmother, Pat Newell, aged 69, who had only come out of hospital two weeks earlier after a hip operation.

She told the Express & Star: “I was determined to be well enough to come to the wedding and to see Jodie perform.”

Jodie’s cousin Sue Brueton, aged 45, from Penn, said: “It’s certainly a different way of celebrating a wedding. A lot of people stayed the extra night so they could come to the show.”

And the final performance received a glowing review from Les Jowett, writing for the Express & Star.

He said: “Opening with Cliff Richard impersonator Trevor Payne dressed as Doctor Who, once again the legendary That’ll Be The Day raised the roof of the Grand Theatre as it rolled back the years.

“Having been touring for more than 22 years, the feel good show is bigger and better than ever with talented singers belting out an uplifting mixture of classic gold hits from the 1950s to the 1980s.

“The show, which was on for one night only last night, is pure non-stop nostalgia and a powerful performance by the five leads including Jodie Lawson backed by a brilliant band, had a full theatre clapping and singing along.

“The set included memorable songs by Cliff Richard, Elvis, Sandie Shaw, Lulu, The Who, Queen, The Beatles and Grease and also some wonderful comedy routines, especially the take-offs of Mick Jagger and Steptoe & Son.

“Old adverts and film clips were shown to the delight of the audience on a large screen at the back, and there was a bit of Carry On-style humour courtesy of the two male leads with one in drag.

“A satisfied audience were on their feet dancing and singing at the finale and shouting for more.”