Alexandra Burke reveals the ‘struggle’ that made her postpone wedding plans

Alexandra Burke desperately needs a well-earned holiday.

She’s just wrapped up an incredible 10-week stint playing funk legend Chaka Khan at the Troubadour while also running a marathon, taking part in Celebrity Apprentice, and performing at Mighty Hoopla. That’s alongside being a mother to her two young children, a fiancée to partner Darren Randolph and all the other hats she wears. 

‘This year has been a lot,’ Alexandra told Metro, just slightly exasperated. 

It’s no wonder she’s had no time whatsoever to plan her wedding to former footballer Darren. 

Her role as Ain’t Nobody hitmaker Chaka was the ‘role of a lifetime’ and followed critically acclaimed performances in West End productions such as The Bodyguard, Sister Act The Musical and Chicago. 

However, it’s her latest gig that was the ‘most challenging’ yet. 

‘What I struggled with was taking her home. I was living, eating and breathing Chaka Khan so I had zero capacity mentally for much else,’ Alexandra explained. 

‘That role was probably the most taxing emotionally and mentally that I’ve ever taken on. A real learning curve for me as an actress trying to leave her in the theatre rather than take her home. 

‘It’s all I’ve known since January so I had to put my own stuff on hold simply because it was a lot. It was the role of a lifetime and it just was a lot for me to take on.’ 

I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical documents Chaka’s rich and colourful life, from her glistening career to her personal tribulations such as addiction and how she overcame all obstacles with sheer resilience. 

Alexandra won rave reviews for her performance, but she has revealed the most terrifying aspect of all. 

‘This is someone’s real life. This is someone’s real story and they’re still here to tell the tale,’ she explained, adding it was ‘daunting’ to have Chaka watching her from the audience. 

Alexandra had to start rehearsals for the musical in January, which left her with very little time to plan a particularly important upcoming life event. 

The Bad Boys singer is set to marry Darren, the father of her two sons, whom she got engaged to in 2024.

After inviting me to help plan it for her in my spare time (with pleasure, by the way), she admitted: ‘I don’t know how women do it; it’s so hard juggling stuff and trying to be a planner… 

‘“I can’t plan a wedding and play Chaka Khan; I’m struggling.” [Darren] went, “Babe, just put it on pause for now then.” I was like, amazing, please can we because I just don’t know how to plan and work and be a mum and also be a good fiancée to you, a good sister, a good daughter without feeling like it’s all on top of me.’ 

Sharing a promising update, Alex confirmed the wedding ‘plans are there’ and will resume in 2027. 

After that, she hopes to expand their family, confessing: ‘I want more children, I want it all.’ 

‘Darren is the most amazing father to the boys,’ the Broken Heels singer gushed. ‘I do my absolute best, and if I can give my kids 5% of what my mum was to me, then it means I’m doing an ok job because my mum was an incredible mother, and what she got dealt in life, she dealt with it with the utmost gratitude and grace.’ 

Raising her two sons has made Alex want to be the best version of herself, and that means looking after her health. 

Through working with tombola and Breast Cancer Now, she was shocked to learn that 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. 

‘Men should be checking themselves as well,’ Alex implored. 

The former Strictly Come Dancing star added: ‘When my mum suddenly passed at such a tender age, that was a massive wake-up call for me in terms of my health. 

‘Since becoming a mum and knowing I want to be around as long as I can for my children, that for me was my biggest thing. 

‘They are my world, and I’ve been so blessed to be able to be a mum. I look at life very differently now, and my children are my reason; they’re my purpose.’ 

It’s been 18 years since Alexandra won the nation over with her stunning voice on The X Factor, and she recently enjoyed a ‘lovely’ reunion with Simon Cowell. 

There’s talk of X Factor returning to screens with a whole new judging panel after seven years away. Alex couldn’t see herself sitting on the other side of the desk, but still holds a special place in her heart for the beloved show. 

‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a show like that,’ she admitted. ‘For me, there’s always room [for a show like X Factor]. It allowed me to have a career. 

‘Here I am, 18 years later still working and doing what I love and it’s because of that platform I had.’ 

She added fondly: ‘It was an amazing experience for myself and I just pray that it allows other people to go on the show and shine and have careers. The music industry is such an amazing industry. The one thing that’s universal is music. 

‘So hopefully it comes back and comes back bigger and better.’