STARS In Their Eyes was a highlight of Saturday night telly for years.
The iconic show, hosted by Leslie Crowther before Matthew Kelly took over, saw members of the public transform themselves with impressive make-up and costumes to perform as their favourite singers.
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Contestants would introduce themselves before uttering the famous catchphrase, “Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…”.
They then disappeared through a set of doors and reappeared as their chosen star.
The original programme ran from 1990 to 2006, with a revival in 2015 hosted by Harry Hill.
Over the years, a series of celebrity specials saw a clutch of famous faces turn themselves into lookalikes of iconic singers.
Here we take a look back at some of the best celebrity Stars In Their Eyes performances…
Carol Vorderman as Cher
Maths guru Carol Vorderman appeared on the very first Stars In Their Eyes celebrity special in 1998.
The former Countdown queen donned a big black wig and a leather skirt to give her very best Cher impression, singing The Shoop Shoop Song.
More on Starstruck
Suranne Jones as Madonna
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Back in 2001, before she was one of the UK’s biggest TV stars, Suranne Jones was best known as Coronation Street’s Karen McDonald.
She and some of her Corrie co-stars took part in a special edition of Stars In Their Eyes, and Suranne wowed as Madonna, performing Music.
Wearing a white cowboy hat, gold chains and sporting a gap in her teeth, Suranne could easily have been mistaken for the real Madge.
Stephen Mulhern as Robbie Williams
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Stephen Mulhern is telly’s nice guy – always smiling, hosting various gameshows like Catchphrase and In For A Penny.
But in 2005, the TV presenter showed off his wild side when he donned a bare-chested catsuit and performed Robbie Williams‘ Let Me Entertain You on Stars In Their Eyes.
Robbie would’ve been proud!
Alison Hammond as Nina Simone
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Back in 2004, when ex-Big Brother contestant Alison Hammond had only just started working as a roving reporter on This Morning, she was asked to appear on Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes.
The much-loved TV presenter performed Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me, seated at a piano and dressed in fabulous orange with a turban on her head.
Maybe this is what gave her the credentials to be a judge on I Can See Your Voice!
Eamonn Holmes as Johnny Cash
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Eamonn Holmes wouldn’t be the first person we’d think of to enter a singing competition.
But the former This Morning host gave it his all when he sang Ring of Fire dressed as Johnny Cash in 2005.
“As long as people realise I’m doing this for fun and can’t sing well, I’m fine,” he said at the time.
Bradley Walsh as Tony Bennett
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He’s best known these days as host of The Chase, but Bradley Walsh has many strings to his bow.
He’s a keen footballer, a talented musician, and back in the day he played Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street.
Bradley was at the height of his Corrie fame when, in 2005, he appeared on a soap star special of Stars In Their Eyes, where he dressed up as American jazz singer Tony Bennett.
Looking convincing with a curly mop and a sharp tux, the appearance foreshadowed Bradley’s own musical success.
In 2016 he released his debut studio album, Chasing Dreams.
A year later came When You’re Smiling – Brad’s second studio album and his second album to chart in the top ten.
Kerry Katona as Marilyn Monroe
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Kerry Katona popped up during a 2006 Stars in Their Eyes Christmas special, where she did her very best Marilyn Monroe.
Fans were treated to a slow and sultry rendition of Santa Baby, with the former Atomic Kitten rocking a blonde wig and her very best pout.
Singer Kerry left the girlband in 2001, but returned in 2012 for another five-year stint with the group.
Beverley Callard as Cher
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Six years after the Vorders took on Cher, Beverley Callard tried her hand at the iconic star too.
Just like Carol, she donned a revealing diamante leotard, a big black curly wig and a leather jacket.
She performed Turn Back Time instead, and wowed the audience with her rendition.
Jerry Springer as Elvis Presley
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It wasn’t just British celebs who performed on Stars In Their Eyes back in the day.
US chat show host Jerry Springer came on the show as Elvis Presley in 2005, performing Can’t Help Falling In Love in the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s iconic pale blue catsuit.
Jerry must’ve got a taste for performing, as he went on to take part in the third season of Dancing With The Stars – and then was a judge on America’s Got Talent for the second and third seasons. He also had a stint on the West End in Chicago.
Jane Danson as Madonna
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Suranne’s Corrie co-star Jane Danson – who plays Leanne Battersby on the ITV soap – also took on Madonna two years later.
She performed the Queen of Pop’s hit Frozen and won the show.
Jane didn’t fare so well in 2007, when she was the second actor to be eliminated on Soapstar Superstar.
Yvette Fielding as Annie Lennox
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Yvette Fielding was known for presenting Blue Peter and Ghost Hunting.
So it was a surprise when she performed as Annie Lennox on Stars In Their Eyes in 2005.
She looked amazing as she sang No More I Love Yous.
Brian Blessed as Luciano Pavarotti
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The Stars In Their Eyes hair and make-up team must’ve been laughing when Brian Blessed turned up ready to perform as opera singer Pavarotti in 2008.
While they would usually spend hours transforming people into iconic pop stars with wigs and prosthetics, Brian simply put on a tux and gelled his hair.
You could hardly tell the difference between him and the real Pavarotti!
Harry Hill as Morrisey
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Harry Hill is known to be a big fan of the Smiths, so it wasn’t surprising when he performed as Morrisey on Stars In Their Eyes, giving the show one of its most memorable moments in 1999.
Singing This Charming Man, Harry – despite keeping his glasses on – got fully into character, tossing around his flowers.
He was so successful on the show, Harry returned to present the reboot in 2015 – but it was axed after just one series.
Denise Welch as Petula Clark
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Loose Women panelist Denise Welch took on Downtown by Petula Clark when she appeared on Stars In Their Eyes on the same show as Harry.
It was a chance for her to show she was a good singer, as well as an actress.
And she’s clearly passed her talents on to her son Matt Healey, the lead singer of band The 1975.
Paul Burrell as Richard Gere
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One could easily argue that Richard Gere isn’t a pop star, but that didn’t stop Paul Burrell taking him on in the 2006 Christmas special.
Princess Diana’s former butler threw on his best tuxedo and surrounded himself with girls as he performed Razzle Dazzle from Chicago.
Al Murray as Neil Diamond
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We’re so used to seeing Al Murray with a pint in his hand, but he swapped it out for a guitar in 2005, when he performed as Neil Diamond.
Wearing a wig and hippy costume, the Pub Landlord looked great as he became the 1970s crooner.
Lisa Riley as Stockard Channing
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Again, Stockard Channing is more of a musical theatre star than pop star.
But Lisa Riley did her proud when she performed There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease in 2002.
Linford Christie as Ray Charles
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Olympic runner Linford Christie shocked everyone when he gave singing a go in 2000.
The athlete performed as Ray Charles – and, controversially, even wore sunglasses, just like the blind singer.
Esther Rantzen as Edith Piaf
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Esther Rantzen wowed everyone in 2002 when she gave a rendition of Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose entirely in French.
The journalist’s make-up was on point, complete with Edith’s thin eyebrows and rosy cheeks.
David Nielson as Roy Orbison
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We all know David Neilson as Roy Cropper in Corrie, so it was very weird to see him as Roy Orbison in 2003.
Before his performance, he did confess: “It’ll be him on a bad day because Roy was a genius, and I ain’t.”
