South Shields is the first of Mr Campbell's speaking events

He took to the stage of the Customs House theatre in South Shields, South Tyneside to warm applause from the 400 audience.

Tickets for the debut public speaking performance by former communications chief Alastair Campbell changed hands for up to �500 on the black market.

They originally went on sale earlier this month for �14.

But the release of the Hutton report on Wednesday has sparked immense interest in the comments of the former aide to Tony Blair.

He made a point of welcoming former athletes and TV presenters Steve Cram and Brendan Foster, both in the audience, when he described them as two of the BBC's "finest journalists".

Mr Campbell came out on stage at 1933 GMT on Friday to rapturous applause, and admitted he was feeling as nervous as he did when he gave evidence to Lord Hutton.

Public speaking

His talk, which ranged from his life as a student busking in Nice with his bagpipes, including his time as a pornographic writer, up to his time as one of the key Blair aides, was well received.

Mr Campbell said there was a rumour that one Sunday newspaper had paid �750 for one of the sought-after tickets.

He was only heckled once by the Tyneside audience, when he referred to the time he watched his beloved Burnley FC play against Newcastle United in an FA Cup semi-final.

Promising to answer any questions put to him at the end of his "talk" to the sell-out audience, he said: "I'm glad I didn't get booed".

Mr Campbell had earlier given reporters the slip as he arrived for the debut of his public speaking career.

He went in through a back door at the Customs House and avoided the 50 or so members of the media who were waiting outside.

Modern media

In a statement before the show, the former Downing Street director of communications said: "I have always enjoyed the cut and thrust of political debate.

"I feel I have something to say about the state of modern politics and the state of modern media and I'm looking forward to discussing these ideas with audiences."

Customs House director Ray Spencer said: "We were very lucky to get Alastair.

"We heard that he was going to be starting a tour talking about his life in politics and in the media and we rang him up and said will you come and do us.

"They didn't have a date to start his tour so we are first."

Mr Campbell left as Prime Minister Tony Blair's director of communications in August after around 10 years in the post.