I'd wanted to see the musical Blood Brothers for years - and now I am kicking myself that it took me so long.

Willy Russell’s moving tale of a long-lost family is just absolutely stunning, phenomenal in fact and if I wasn't laughing, then I was crying.

It really is one of the best musicals I've ever seen and myself and my theatre buddy were totally transfixed from the moment the performers got on stage.

I am regularly at the theatre, it's one of my favourite pastimes and there are very few shows that hit the mark and are perfect from start to finish, but this one does.

It really is right up there with the likes of Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys and We Will Rock You.

It's currently on stage for a UK 16-week tour after making its West End debut in 1983, and if you can get to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley this week, then you are in for a real treat.

Blood Brothers, set in Liverpool between the 1950s and 1980s and follows the lives of twins Eddie and Mickey, who are separated at birth after their mother cannot afford to feed two more children and leaves one of them in the care of an upper middle-class family.

Sometimes when you turn up for a performance and it's just about to start you get told over the tannoy that the lead role that evening is not being played by the actor who usually does it and sometimes that can be a bit of a disappointment.

Well it wasn't on Tuesday night when the role of Mrs Johnstone, who is is usually played by former X Factor finalist Niki Colwell Evans was played by Paula Tappenden.

Boy what a performer she is, she took me on a rollercoaster of emotions from the moment she opened her mouth.

She is an absolutely stunning performer and along with Sean Jones, as Mikey and Joe Sleight as Eddie, they take you on a journey that will see you feel every emotion possible.

Theatre star Sean has reprised his role of Mickey, and boy, does he play it so well.

A special mention should also go to the musical's narrator, Richard Munday, he's perfect at his role and led the show from scene to scene so perfectly.

Honestly, I can't put into words how wonderful this show is, the actors, the songs, the set, absolutely everything is just perfectly stunning and it's happy and funny in places and very sad in others.

The emotional feelings portrayed by the actors on stage gets right into your heart and fills it with glee or some other emotion.

We were left stunned by the performance and despite having teary eyes, we were smiling from ear-to-ear all the way home.

The show, written by Willy Russell, who also penned plays Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, is one of only three musicals to have surpassed 10,000 performances on London’s West End.

It opened almost 40 years ago and has won three Olivier Awards and been nominated for six Tony Awards and I can totally see why.

Blood Brothers is on at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, until Saturday, March 4. Book online here or call 03433 100020.

Tickets start from £25, not including booking fees.