Excited hordes waited to see Lemar and support acts The Score and JLS on Saturday.

The X Factor runners-up whipped up the crowd first with a set which included their versions of classics and new single, Mary.

Lemar took to the stage looking suave in black jeans, a leather jacket and shades. The 30-year-old soul-pop star showed no signs of the bout of tonsillitis which forced him to cancel some of his shows earlier in March.

Rather, Lemar demonstrated why he enjoys such a following and has won two Brits and a MOJO Award. It was a mature, confident performance aided by a five-piece band and three talented backing vocalists, who strutted with Lemar in a fun display of attitude and theatre as they performed Little Miss Heart Breaker.

“I wanted to move away from the sparkly TV screen-centred tour of two years ago,” Lemar told the crowd. “This time I thought I’d keep it more about the music.”

The Tottenham-born star performed hits including If There’s Any Justice, 50/50, Over You, Soul Man and If She Knew.

He exuded a powerful voice and vocal range which didn’t require any gimmicks.

Finishing with new single Weight Of The World, Lemar explained he had reflected on and questioned his journey to fame while making his fourth album, The Reason.

He has certainly come a long way since Fame Academy in 2002 and it seems it is an ongoing adventure.