IN the 10 years that she has been bringing Tina Turner to life almost on a nightly basis, Justine Riddoch has had her fair share of accolades.

Her show - Totally Tina - has been voted the best tribute in the UK to the American artist for the past six years and has regularly scooped awards for best female artist, best choreography and best theatre show over the years.

But none compare to the comments from the fans, who queue up to meet Justine after every show.

“It’s not just about winning the awards for my group, even though I love being able to say we’ve won this award or that award,” said Justine.

“It’s that moment in the foyer of the theatre where hundreds of people who are real Tina fans have thanked me personally and have said that we gave them something in their life that was lacking.

“That what is important to me now. Not only do I have a career doing something I adore but this time instead of being in a social club and people ignoring me, I seem to be making a difference. As an artist that is all you can ask for.”

Justine first shot to fame after winning the TV show Stars in Their Eyes as pop star Anastacia. But it was when she took Totally Tina on the road that her popularity really increased and this year the show is celebrating 10 years on the road - including a date in Oswaldtwistle on Saturday.

“It’s a little bit strange,” she admitted. “I really never expected it to run this long. I did think when I first started to be this character, ‘I wonder how long I’m going to get out of this’.”

Justine puts the show’s success down to the hard work she and her team have put into it.

“People think it just zoomed off and we just do loads of gigs,” she said. “If you had to see what I have to do you probably wouldn’t believe it.

“Today I’ve got loads of costumes to wash, I’m fixing three or four broken things and then I’ve got to pack

“But I never wanted to do this on a small scale. Tina is one of those characters that can become a bit charicature-ish if you don’t do it properly.

“It’s no good grabbing a wig and a pair of glasses and saying you’re Roy Orbison or whoever. You really have to work at it now. People won’t accept a half-hearted version of whoever it is you are doing.

“For me it has always been a real labour of love.

“You owe it to the artist and their legacy and everything they have worked for and their fans to get it right.”

Totally Tina, Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre, Saturday, April 20. Details from 01254 398319 or www.civicartscentre.co.uk