Gordon Brown’s days as Chancellor may be over, but he was right on the money when he described Alesha Dixon as a national treasure while she was his guest at Downing Street earlier in the year.

Dixon has certainly come a long way since her days in all-girl Garage/R ’n’ B band Mis-Teeq. While they enjoyed some success on both sides of the pond, she found herself restricted in her role as rapper and the group disbanded in 2005.

Her subsequent solo career began in fits and starts, then received a huge boost after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. Since when her star has unquestionably been in the ascendance.

On stage on Thursday she looked a million dollars. Accompanied by a razor-sharp backing band and two athletic male dancers, she exuded talent and charisma.

This was the last night of a 17-date tour which has taken Dixon, now 31, the length and breadth of the UK, and the celebratory on-stage mood was unmistakable.

This infectious joyfulness immediately spread to the predominantly female audience, who lapped up her exhilarating combination of pop, rock, soul and dance. The set included Lipstick, a fiery soul track from her first album, Let’s Get Excited, Chasing Ghosts and Cinderella Shoe.

The finale was the huge ballad To Love Again, co-written with Gary Barlow, followed by her biggest hit, The Boy Does Nothing.

By the end of the evening, the combination of Dixon’s excellent vocals, shimmering stage presence, beautiful dancing and enormous charm had the audience on their feet and eating out of her hand.