KYLIE Minogue proved her battle with cancer was behind her with a spectacular show at the MEN Arena.

This was the event thousands of Kylie fans had been waiting for - the Manchester leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour which belatedly kicked off in Sydney in November.

Every bit the showgirl, preened to perfection and with some beautifully outrageous outfits, including a flambouyant pink costume for the opening number, Kylie strutted her stuff in front of a delighted crowd.

She had a lot to live up to - only four years ago, the pop princess took to the stage as part of her 2002 Fever tour, whipping the audience into such a frenzy that many were moved to tears.

The scene last night was all-too-familar. The opening bars of her first song Better The Devil You Know were drowned out by the rapturous applause of the frenzied thousands. Men whooped, women screamed and many a child was left speechless, so overwhelmed by the enormity of Kylie's world.

The arena was transformed by a spectacular light display as Kylie and her dozens-strong and spectacular backing entourage - with more than enough "muscle men" - got down to business.

This is a showgirl who knows exactly how to play the crowd - and it's all too easy to forget her humble beginnings as Charlene, the grubby tomboy mechanic of Ramsey Street in Neighbours.

Kylie has changed her persona, appearance and music style more times than I - and probably she, for that matter - cares to count.

But her current formula of feisty, pixie-type pop stunner - with a pinch of enduring vulnerability - is by far the best to date.

Kylie worked her way through almost 20 years of chart-topping music from the melancholic tones of Confide In Me, to the upbeat Spinning Around. And with plenty thrown in the middle - Can't Get You Out Of My Head, Kids, Especially For You and a big-band version of The Locomotion - there was something for every generation of fan.

This was an energetic performance from a woman who rightly deserves her Princess of Pop title. Long may her reign as royalty continue.