Beverley is 100% glad to be home

She may have sung about "a place called nowhere" but Beverley Knight was in no doubt about her Wolverhampton origins when she played an intimate gig in the West Midlands.

The 36-year-old soul songstress signed copies of her new album at Birmingham's HMV after performing five hits before a delighted, small audience.

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A lucky few dozen were given access to the acoustic set in the High Street branch when they bought a copy of her latest record, 100%.

Speaking to the Express & Star afterwards she confirmed she would be joining Wolverhampton-born Gadget Show presenter Suzi Perry in the Run for Dreams 4km race around the city on October 11.

She said: "We're starting at the mighty Molineux and we're running for Promise Dreams, I wouldn't miss it."

Later this month her new make-up range, K, aimed at women with darker skin, will go on sale.

Bev said: "There was never much on offer for black girls. Wear the wrong shade and you look like a ghost, it was a nightmare. When I was growing up Boots in Dudley Street was smaller than it is now and there wasn't a range that suited me in Beatties."

Originally Beverley was going to play just three songs but decided to do another two after being spurred on by her family who had made the trip from Penn Fields and Pendeford to see her.

Her mother Deloris Smith, aged 61, recently retired from her career as a nurse at Cannock Eye Centre said: "We try to come to as many of Beverley's performances as we can."

Human resources worker Jemma Hirschfield, of Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, and administrator Hayley Bishop, of Low Avenue, both 24, came to see her. Jemma said: "She's just fantastic and she's local."

By Daniel Wainwright