Tearful Alexandra Burke recalls heartbreaking moment her mum, 53, died in her arms

Alexandra Burke has shared the moment her mum died - eight months after doctors had warned that she had 72 hours left.

Melissa Bell died aged 53 in 2017, and X Factor star Alexandra told on Elizabeth Day's How To Fail podcast that it wasn't until her final show in Blackpool with The Sister Show that she received a call telling her she needed to come see her mother urgently.

"When my mum fell sick it all happened so suddenly, she just spiralled," Alexandra recalled.

"Everything was fine one minute and then all of a sudden she had a stroke. It was like she was two different people."

And when Melissa fell ill, Alexandra insisted she would quit the tour - before her mum scolded her for even thinking about it.

Melissa died in 2017 (Steve Bainbridge)

"I had eight months left and I sat her down in hospital," the singer continued, "and said, 'Mum I'm going to quit the tour', and do you know what she said? 'First of all I didn't raise a quitter and she said you get your black arse on stage. People have paid to watch you perform.'"

Alexandra continued: "If something had happened to her I would leave the show and then I would drive wherever I was Manchester, Sheffield, I would sleep on the hospital floor, then drive back to London.

"I would see to family, stay the night and go back and do the show."

Melissa died in Alexandra's arms (Getty Images)

And recalling the moment she died, Alexandra added: "She gave us another Christmas, a birthday each, a mother's day.

"Then the last day of my show, I finished in Blackpool, I was driving back to London and I got a call saying 'you need to come to hospital now' so I drove to hospital and within 10 minutes she died in my arms.

"So I lost those nine months, I regret going on tour.

Alexandra said she regrets not pulling out of the tour - despite her mum insisting she didn't (BBC)

"I regret it so deeply, I had so much time on the road than with my mum. I should have just told my mum 'look you're my priority, I want to quit the tour and be with you.'

"My mum wouldn't have want it any other way but putting work first that is something now I won't do at times.

"I was 29 when my mum passed away and I was so lucky to have my mummy for 29 years. What we shared, our memories we created together, money can't buy that."