Elton weeps at Billy Elliott premiere

Elton John wept at the opening night of new musical Billy Elliott, which he wrote the music for.

John admits he cried when he first saw the film at the Cannes Film Festival because the main character's battle to become a ballet dancer in a working class area of England resembled his own early years.

He loved the film so much, he persuaded director Stephen Daldry and author Lee Hall to turn it into a stage show, with lyrics by Hall and music by John.

And tears flowed again at London's Victoria Palace Theatre this week.

John says: "The last three songs completely got me again. I was blubbing. I didn't think I would be relaxed enough to give it my full emotions, but from the word go I was away."