STARS In Their Eyes has been a Saturday night TV highlight for years.
The iconic show, hosted by Leslie Crowther before Matthew Kelly took over, saw audience members transform with impressive make-up and costumes to perform as their favorite singers.
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The competitors introduced themselves before saying the famous catchphrase “Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…”.
They then disappeared through a series of doors and reappeared as their chosen star.
The original program ran from 1990 to 2006, with a 2015 revival hosted by Harry Hill.
Over the years, a series of celebrity specials have seen a cast of famous faces transform into lookalikes of iconic singers.
Here we look back at some of the best performances from Stars In Their Eyes…
Carol Vorderman as Cher
Math guru Carol Vorderman appeared in the first-ever Stars In Their Eyes celebrity special in 1998.
The former Countdown Queen donned a chunky black wig and leather skirt to give her the best Cher impression, while singing The Shoop Shoop Song.
Suranne Jones as Madonna
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In 2001, before she was one of Britain’s biggest TV stars, Suranne Jones was best known as Karen McDonald of Coronation Street.
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 between her teeth, Suranne could easily have been mistaken for the real Madge.
Stephen Mulhern as Robbie Williams
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Stephen Mulhern is the nice guy on TV – always smiling, hosting various game shows like Catchphrase and In For A Penny.
But in 2005, the TV presenter showed his wild side by donning a shirtless jumpsuit and performing Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You on Stars In Their Eyes.
Robbie would have been proud!
Alison Hammond as Nina Simone
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In 2004, when former Big Brother contestant Alison Hammond had just started working as a traveling reporter on This Morning, she was asked to appear on Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes.
The much-loved TV presenter performed My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone, seated at a piano and dressed in a fabulous orange with a turban on her head.
Maybe that’s what gave him 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 would think of to enter a singing competition.
But the former This Morning presenter gave it his all when he sang Ring of Fire dressed as Johnny Cash in 2005.
“As long as people realize I’m doing this for fun and I can’t sing well, that’s fine,” he said at the time.
Bradley Walsh as Tony Bennett
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He’s best known these days as the host of The Chase, but Bradley Walsh has many strings to his bow.
He’s a keen footballer, a talented musician and at the time he played Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street.
Bradley was at the height of his Corrie fame when, in 2005, he appeared on a Stars In Their Eyes soap opera special, where he dressed as American jazz singer Tony Bennett.
Looking convincing with a curly mop and sharp tuxedo, the appearance foreshadowed Bradley’s own musical success.
In 2016, he released his first studio album, Chasing Dreams.
A year later came When You’re Smiling – Brad’s second studio album and second album to chart in the top ten.
Kerry Katona as Marilyn Monroe
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Kerry Katona appeared on a 2006 Stars in Their Eyes Christmas special, where she did her 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 his best pout.
Singer Kerry left the girl group in 2001, but returned in 2012 for another five-year stint with the group.
Beverly Callard as Cher
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Six years after the Vorders took on Cher, Beverley Callard has also tried her hand at the iconic star.
Just like Carol, she donned a revealing rhinestone leotard, a chunky black curly wig and a leather jacket.
She performed Turn Back Time instead and wowed the audience with her performance.
Jerry Springer as Elvis Presley
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It wasn’t just British celebrities performing on Stars In Their Eyes at the time.
American 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 signature pale blue jumpsuit.
Jerry must have had a taste for acting, as he then competed on the third season of Dancing With The Stars – then served as a judge on America’s Got Talent for the second and third seasons. He also had a stint in 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 opera – also clashed with Madonna two years later.
She performed the Queen of Pop’s hit Frozen and won the show.
Jane didn’t do 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 starred as Annie Lennox in Stars In Their Eyes in 2005.
She looked amazing singing No More I Love Yous.
Brian Blessed as Luciano Pavarotti
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The Stars In Their Eyes hair and makeup team had to laugh when Brian Blessed arrived ready to perform as opera singer Pavarotti in 2008.
While they typically spent hours transforming people into iconic pop stars with wigs and prosthetics, Brian would simply don a tuxedo and gel 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 huge Smiths fan, so it was no surprise that he starred as Morrisey on Stars In Their Eyes, giving the show one of its most memorable moments in 1999.
While singing This Charming Man, Harry – despite keeping his glasses on – fully integrated into the character, shaking his flowers.
It was so successful on the show that 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 Petula Clark’s Downtown when she appeared on Stars In Their Eyes on the same show as Harry.
It was a chance for her to show that she was a good singer, as well as an actress.
And she clearly passed her talents on to her son Matt Healey, lead singer of The 1975.
Paul Burrell as Richard Gere
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You could easily say that Richard Gere isn’t a pop star, but that didn’t stop Paul Burrell from going up against him in the 2006 Christmas special.
Princess Diana’s former butler donned his best tuxedo and surrounded himself with girls as he performed Chicago’s Razzle Dazzle.
Al Murray as Neil Diamond
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We’re so used to seeing Al Murray with a pint in hand, but he traded it in for a guitar in 2005 when he starred as Neil Diamond.
Dressed in a hippie wig and costume, Pub Landlord looked great as the crooner of the 1970s.
Lisa Riley as Stockard Channing
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Again, Stockard Channing is more of a musical theater star than a pop star.
But Lisa Riley made 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 took up singing in 2000.
The athlete starred 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 interpreted La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf entirely in French.
The journalist’s make-up was on point, with Edith’s fine 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 strange to see him as Roy Orbison in 2003.
Prior to his performance, he confessed, “It’ll be him on a bad day because Roy was a genius, and I wasn’t.”
