Musical delight for star Sophie

Shropshire actress Sophie Bould looked every inch the West End star after winning a standing ovation at the opening night of The Sound of Music.

Shropshire actress Sophie Bould looked every inch the West End star after winning a standing ovation at the opening night of The Sound of Music.The 24-year-old joined fellow cast members including Connie Fisher and Lesley Garrett on the red carpet at a celebration party after the premiere at the London Palladium.

Stars of stage and screen packed into the theatre last night for the official opening performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's production - one of the biggest shows to hit theatreland.

Sophie, who plays Liesl, is pictured with Connie Fisher and Lord Webber. She said the show had gone brilliantly and the cast let their hair down for a few hours at the after-show party at Old Billingsgate Market, Tower Bridge.

"It was amazing, worth all the hard work and effort. Everyone had a great show," she said.

It has already taken £13 million in advance sales thanks to the extraordinary way the directors found their leading lady, 23-year-old unknown actress Connie Fisher. She won the part of Maria following a gruelling process of live television auditions in the BBC show, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Connie's standing ovation was the longest of the night.