WITH more than a thousand squealing fans packed into Blackpool's Opera House, I could have been forgiven for thinking I had gate-crashed a teeny-boppers convention.

But as the hysterical wailing gave way to perfectly unified chanting of the mantra "Donny, Donny, Donny" I realised it was much worse - I was actually in a highly cringeworthy middle-aged/adolescent timewarp!

For that familiar toothpaste-white smile - better known as the squeaky-clean, good guy of pop, Donny Osmond - was back in town, reducing anybody over the age of 40 into a weak-kneed gibbering wreck.

And encouraging grown women to don inexcusably retro scarves with 'I Love Donny' emblazoned across them.

Then, as the lights dimmed, the screaming began to reach fever pitch once more and I considered hibernating under my seat when the man himself burst onto the stage.

Despite the very best of intentions to remain a detached, 20-something 'non-fan', I began to warm to the world's most famous Mormon and pop idol to millions.

And ignoring the army of mental groupies who insisted on launching themselves at the burly-looking security staff, and the carpet of red roses and stuffed puppy dogs (for Puppy Love, of course) which were hurled from excited uber-fans, I started to enjoy myself.

In today's notoriously fickle (and less talented) music industry this is a man who has survived more than three decades at the top, Donny Osmond is, undeniably, a survivor re-inventing himself from teen heart-throb in the 70s, into a serious musician in the 80s and a Broadway star during the 90s.

He's now into the 21st Century and, at 44, still going strong, churning out love song after love song supported by an equally talented team of musicians, putting on a show that has universal appeal to all ages.

There were a few hairy moments involving a couple of cheesy dance moves and a twirl in his technicolour dreamcoat (he starred in the Broadway version of the Andrew Lloydd Webber show for six years).

And a steady stream of raucous yells from the audience such as "get your kit off'.

But he played the audience like a true professional from his nostalgic pop classics such as 'Puppy Love' and a Donny take on an MTV Un-plugged style session, right down to a stirring rendition of 'Crazy Horses' and an intimate piano solo encore.

I may not have managed to show signs of the teenage me like the rest of the ladies present, but - in spite of myself - I had a very good time!