It's been nearly six years since Leona Lewis set off on a career which would see her emerge as one of the few talent show winners to endure. Along with Girls Aloud, Will Young and the seemingly unrelenting One Direction, Lewis is that rare thing - a talent search find with genuine and enduring appeal.

Even rarer, when Leona set her sights stateside, she managed to do what even Cheryl and Will have (with respect) failed to - she conquered America. And how. Her single Bleeding Love was the best-selling single of 2008 worldwide, reaching No 1 everywhere it was released, except Sweden. That included the US where her debut album, Spirit, also topped the Billboard countdown, shipping nine million albums in the process. Boom, a star is born.

Since then, Leona Lewis has maintained a high, almost A-list, profile in the US. Her follow-up album, 2009's Echo, may have 'only' reached No 13 in the US charts but, for an X Factor winner from Islington, it's still the major leagues. And this very weekend, Leona returned to her alma mater to perform on the X Factor. She once again wooed fans with her new single, Trouble, and hinted at a forthcoming tour announcement. Et voila.

Leona's spring tour kicks off in Ipswich on 29th April, followed by dates in Nottingham, Newcastle, Brighton, London, Manchester and more before the final date announced so far at the Plymouth Pavilions on 18th May 2013. There are two London dates, both at the Royal Albert Hall, on 8th and 9th May, as well as huge arena gigs in Liverpool, Cardiff and Bournemouth. We'll have tickets (priced from £35) from 10am on Friday 12th October 2012.