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Annie Roberts

Stars In Their Eyes: Celebs you forgot were on the TV talent show

It's been seven years since the ITV's Stars in Their Eyes was last on our screens.

The musical talent series saw members of the public - who looked and sounded similar to their favourite artists - take to the stage in a Saturday night entertainment programme.

It was first hosted by Leslie Crowther from 1990 to 1992 before Matthew Kelly - who is probably best known as its host, due to the iconic line "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be..." - took over the role from 1993 to 2004.

Read more: ITV Starstruck: Start date, judges and host of new Stars in Their Eyes-style TV talent show

In 2004, Cat Deeley stepped in to host the show with comedian Harry Hill then hosting a one-off series in 2015.

But members of the public weren't the only ones to come through the sliding doors into a cloud of fog, there were also celebrity specials too.

Here's just some of the celebrities who were once transformed into their music icons on the '90s and '00s TV talent show:

Carol Vorderman

Stars In Their Eyes: Celebrity Special Carol Vorderman as Cher (GTV)

The Welsh radio presenter and former Countdown host dressed up as American diva Cher in her appearance on Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes in 1998.

The Express reported in January 2022, how Carol had spoken of her performance of 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)' by Cher on her BBC Radio Wales show.

Carol recalled the experience as being traumatic, she said: "[I came] through the smoke and there is no intro on this track, no music so you can walk down to the mic.

"You have to just start and the audience seemed so loud I couldn't hear anything! I thought I better just start, so I started and was three bars out; everything went so wrong.

"I started crying! I was in such a state of trauma," she said before adding: "I died when I watched it, it was just so traumatic."

Denise Welch

Denise Welch with Matthew Kelly in the Stars In Their Eyes Celebrity Special in October 1999 (Granada TV)

In 1999, actor and Loose Women panellist Denise appeared on the show as Petula Clark, a British singer best-known for her songs 'Downtown' in 1965 and 'Don't Sleep in the Subway' in 1967.

Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones as Madonna on Stars In Their Eyes: Coronation Street Special (Granada TV/ITV)

The Gentleman Jack and Vigil star Suranne Jones made two appearances on the Celebrity version of Stars in Their Eyes. Her first appearance was in 2001 when she was transformed into Madonna and sang 'Music'.

Suranne Jones as Catherine Zeta Jones in hit musical Chicago (Granada TV/ITV)

She then returned to the Stars in Their Eyes stage in 2003 for the 'Soap Special' where she preformed as Catherine Zeta Jones in the musical Chicago, signing 'All that Jazz'.

Alison Hammond

This Morning presenter and TV personality Alison Hammond went on Stars in Their Eyes back in 2004, when Cat Deeley was host of the entertainment show, and appeared through the sliding doors as American singer, Nina Simone.

The 47-year-old Big Brother star recently posted on her Instagram account, sharing a video flashback of her time on the show.

In her post she wrote: "Throw back to Stars in Their Eyes - Can you remember who I was? love this."

A number of famous faces replied in the comments section including Loose Women panellist Ruth Langsford, Strictly's Ore Oduba and Cat Deeley, who commented: "This is brilliant !!!! Joyful and brilliant".

Bradley Walsh

Bradley Walsh performs as Tony Bennett (ITV)

Actor, comedian and The Chase host Bradley Walsh - who is also well known for his ITV travel show with his son Barney - appeared as Tony Bennett on Stars in Their Eyes back in 2005.

He performed in the show's 'Soap Special' as Bradley was then playing Danny Baldwin on Coronation Street.

Lisa Riley

Actress and Emmerdale star Lisa Riley appeared on the 2002 Celebrity version of Stars In Their Eyes as Stockhard Channing - who played Rizzo in the movie 1978 movie Grease.

In a Instagram post back in February 2021, Lisa shared a picture of her on the show and said: "This is CRAZY. #flashback to 2002 my friends just sent me this computer photo....... I was appearing on "CELEBRITY STARS IN THEIR EYES" no you won't guess who I am, maybe a little clue with the "PINK LADY" shiny jacket!!!"

Stephen Mulhern

Stephen Mulhern performs as Robbie Williams (ITV)

TV presenter, magician and comedian Stephen Mulhern went on Stars in Their Eyes in 2005 and performed as former Take That band member Robbie Williams.

He appeared on the show when Cat Deeley was hosting and sang Robbie's 1997 single 'Let Me Entertain You' - wearing a very memorable outfit!

Kerry Katona

Kerry Katona as the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe (ITV)

Former Atomic Kitten star and media personality Kerry appeared on the Christmas special of the celebrity version of the talent show in 2004 as Marilyn Monroe singing to 'Santa Baby'.

Michelle Collins

Actress Michelle Collins, who is best known for her roles in EastEnders and Coronation Street, appeared on Stars in Their Eyes back in the 90s as Chrissie Hynde.

In November 2021, Michelle shared a clip of her appearance on the show with the caption: "#starsintheireyes @chrissiehyndemusic #rockchick over 25 years ago at least !! I was #petrified was filmed live the ! Love my #backingsingers I wonder who they are ! Where they are ?"

There were a number of other famous faces who took to the Stars in Their Eyes stage including;

  • Steps' Claire Richards as Karen Carpenter
  • Broadcaster Eamonn Holmes as Johnny Cash
  • Comedian Al Murray as Neil Diamond
  • Comedian and Junior Bake Off host Harry Hill as Morrissey
  • Five Corrie stars including Angela Griffin and Jane Danson became The Spice Girls

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