Yvette Tamara at Bolton Albert Hall

WHENEVER a psychic walks out on stage there is an immediate air of expectancy -- will they deliver, or will they disappoint.

Yvette Tamara is a new breed of psychic. She banishes the myth that they are all dressed in black and are wizened old ladies.

Instead she breezed on stage last night with a smile and a joke.

But then began the serious stuff. The atmosphere became slightly tense when she enquired after anyone with the name Gillian. A few more details came out and she began holding a conversation with a spirit she said she could see standing next to her.

The audience held its collective breath until a woman raised her hand in recognition of the facts being put forward by Yvette.

"I am Gillian," she said. And so, we were off. Yelps of delight and gasps of astonishment greeted Yvette's almost every word. Names were readily recognised. When Yvette said she had suffered trouble with her teeth, she nodded she had just been to the dentist. "You've just purchased cinema tickets and are not sure you will go," said Yvette. "Yes," came the reply, they were bought just a couple of days ago. Fact after fact was readily received and after the message was over, Gillian said: "It is scary it is so true. Before I came tonight I said if something does not happen to me or my friends in the hall then I do not think I will believe in all of this." Yvette continued. One problem was the readiness of some members of the audience to put up their hands. On more than one occasion Yvette had to talk to three or four people at the same time, until she was able to whittle the reading down to the "chosen one".

Time after time, the audience held its breath with expectancy. Disappointment was never too far away, but eventually, links were made and there was a collective sigh of relief. At the end of the show Yvette even revealed a winning Lottery line -- although she did say the win would come after Christmas. Just in case anyone is interested the numbers were 1, 7, 11, 17, 21, 34.

This was an entertaining night out. But the trouble with going to see a psychic is that unless they pinpoint one of your party you feel slightly deflated walking away. Nevertheless, she did seem to have an uncanny talent to hit the nail on the head time and time again. It was also admirable to see the way she stubbornly stuck with certain messages, even when they were met with blank faces. On almost everything she said though she did get there in the end. Beverly Greenberg