THE heat is on in Saigon - and in Southampton too!

Audiences will be packing out The Mayflower Theatre tonight for the opening of smash West End musical Miss Saigon.

The classic show, which had a gala premiere in aid of Wessex Heartbeat last night, runs in Southampton until December as the final leg of a two-year UK tour. A host of local celebrities including Lord and Lady Montagu, Saints chairman Rupert Lowe and Meridian presenter Fred Dinenage, are expected to attend tonight's sell-out performance.

With more than £2m ticket sales so far, the spectacular show tells the tragic love story of an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman in the final days of the Vietnam War.

For stars David Shannon and Ima Castro, who play lovers Chris and Kim, the Southampton run of the show promises to be extra special. The couple fell in love when they joined the tour last year and are set to get hitched in Southampton next month.

For the low-down on Miss Saigon at The Mayflower, see your What's On guide in today's Daily Echo. A full review on the show will appear in next Wednesday's Daily Echo.