December 20th, 2006 by Lisa McGarry.
Tupele Dorgu (Kelly Crabtree, Coronation Street)
What’s your favourite music style?
Just regular pop, you know, a bit of everything really, but mainly just chart stuff.
What’s your earliest singing memory?
Probably singing ‘He’s got the Whole World in his Hands’ at school. Oh, I used to love that. And ‘Ladybird’.
Who would you compare yourself with musically?
Musically, probably, Eminem, with a bit of Elton John, Michael Jackson, a bit of Neil Diamond in there. Oh yeah, that’s me!
What can the audience expect from you?
Big hair. Hopefully really big hair. That’s kind of it really. Obviously, the general singing and performing and stuff.
Do you think you’ll have a good stage presence?
I can’t say that, can I? I have no idea, I’m not going to sell myself.
What do you think Kelly would say about you doing the show?
“Who does she think she is?� She would probably think that she could do better.
How do you think your friends and family would react?
Oh, I think they’d be excited. I think they’d be really pleased that I’m doing something like this and, you know, nervous for me. My family would be nervous, my friends would be dead excited because they love all that kind of stuff.
Did you watch last year?
I did, yes. I went to see it a couple of times. I actually had a bit of a nightmare. Me and my flatmate were supposed to go and see it, I think it was the final and I was out and I told Debbie when to be ready by and she said she sat there in her pyjamas with her soup watching it and it came on TV and she phoned me and went, ‘we’re supposed to be there’. She was really upset and we had to get ready in like ten minutes and we managed to catch the second half. So hopefully, that won’t happen this year.
What are your top three artists and albums?
Probably Beyonce, the first solo album. I like Corinne Bailey Rae at the moment. Who else do I like? Bit of Take That, got to have a bit of Take That.
Who would you compare yourself with musically?
Musically, I’ve absolutely no idea. No one that wonderful. I don’t know. I mean, I love a lot of styles, but it’s whether I could fulfil them. I mean, I love Beyonce’s style, I love Corinne Bailey Rae’s style, but I’d never for a minute think that I was anything like them. If I was an artist and I was very talented in that department, I’d like to be one of those kind of people.
Favourite artists?
Shirley Bassey.