There was an emotional welcome for Russell Watson last week at the New Theatre, Oxford, where he appeared as part of his comeback tour, just eight months after undergoing surgery to remove a second brain tumour.

After his last appearance in Oxford was cancelled, this one seemed a long time coming - and the audience was in hero-worship mode, greeting the man they call "the Voice" with a devotion that bordered on hysteria.

Watson is, of course, the ultimate crowd-pleaser; he adores his audiences, enjoys exchanging banter with them, and even obligingly signs a few autographs from the stage. On top of that, he has a relaxed, matey, boy-next-door manner about him, suggesting that, despite his worldwide fame, he is still just a down-to-earth Salford lad at heart.

But he never loses sight of the music, and last week he churned out hit after hit with apparently boundless energy, leaving no one in any doubt that he has, at last, recovered from his health problems.

His programme, as always, encompassed just about every musical genre, from opera to pop, and included O Sole Mio, Nessun Dorma, Music of the Night, Volare and a host of others, all delivered with the same vocal potency and irresistible charm.

Only one complaint - it was over-amplified to the point where the sound was occasionally getting distorted. But few seemed to care - for Russell's doting audience, it seems, he can do no wrong.

Watson is undoubtedly a magnificent talent, with an outsized personality to match, and he knows how to put on a good evening's entertainment. But was I alone, I wonder, in finding all the adulation and hysteria just a tad excessive?

The lady next to me - who must have been 70 plus - was practically bouncing up and down on her seat with excitement as the house lights went down. No matter - this was a thrilling rollercoaster of musical magic, and a good time was had by all.