How Alexandra Burke's footballer fiance helped her land Curfew role

The X Factor winner, who stars in Paramount+ thriller Curfew, told This Morning that Darren Randolph features in her audition tape.

Watch: Alexandra Burke says her footballer fiance helped her land a role in Curfew

Alexandra Burke has told how her footballer fiance Darren Randolph helped her to land her first TV acting role, by playing her school pupils on an audition tape.

The X Factor winner is better known for her pop career and West End shows, but is branching out into acting with a role as a teacher in Paramount Plus thriller Curfew.

She told This Morning she had no idea how she had landed the role - but credited goalkeeper Randolph for his acting skills, saying he had voiced various characters on her self-tape for the show.

Alexandra Burke reckons her fiance 'could be an actor if he wanted'. (ITV screengrab)
Alexandra Burke reckons her fiance 'could be an actor if he wanted'. (ITV screengrab)

Alexandra Burke can now add acting to her CV with a role in thriller Curfew, about a world in which men aren't allowed out after dark in a bid to keep women safe.

But the X Factor winner, who plays a teacher with a big secret, told This Morning she was amazed she had landed the role - and had her footballer fiance Darren Randolph to thank for his star appearance in her audition tape.

She said: "I'm having to pinch myself because I really don't understand how I got this role. Working alongside such amazing, inspiring people I'm literally pinching myself...I wish I could turn back time to relive every moment. The 4am starts were absolutely worth it."

Read more: Alexandra Burke

Talking about how Randolph had helped her, she said: "He could be an actor if he wanted to. He and my best friend Melini help me with any scripts I have to learn. There was times when Darren was in Bournemouth (where he was playing at the time) and he was reading bits on the FaceTime.

"With the (audition) self-tape he was helping read it as well along with Melini just so we had different voices. They were playing all the pupils in the classroom. Sometimes, I think, 'you guys should have the job!'."

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09:  Alexandra Burke and Darren Randolph attend the
Alexandra Burke says Darren Randolph acted on her Curfew audition tape. (Getty Images for BFI)

Burke added that she found watching back her scenes uncomfortable, and that she doesn't like to listen to her own music, either.

"I feel like it's not me on there," she said. "I find it really strange because I don't tend to watch anything back or listen to anything. When I do my albums it's very rare that I'll listen to things unless I have to choose songs.

"I'm a bit embarrassed if I'm honest. I get really embarrassed about it when my character's secret comes out and I get really shy about it. But the reality is I have to start watching these things back because I need to learn to be a bit more proud of myself."

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Alexandra Burke (L) and Darren Randolph attend the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards 2024 at The Roundhouse on October 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Alexandra Burke and Darren Randolph got engaged in September. (Getty Images)

Burke and Randolph got engaged in September and she said that they were in a "wonderful, gorgeous engagement bubble" but that she hoped to get married soon.

The singer, who has two children with Randolph, said of planning a wedding: "I have no idea where to even start. I know that sounds really silly. I am in this wonderful, gorgeous engagement bubble with Darren and the kids and we're just loving life at the moment.

"It only happened recently so I'm probably not going to be that person who's like let's get married tomorrow even though I want to say that to him, but it might scare him. I do want to get married soon, maybe a year to 18 months, but hopefully not too long. I need to make time."

This Morning airs on ITV1 at 10am on weekdays.