Clare McPherson and Gemma Donnelly are two Canvey 17-year-olds with their sights set on stardom.

The pair - friends for the past nine years - are set to perform a duet at the London Palladium.

Sunday Night at the Palladium is being revived as a variety show and the girls so impressed the production team at the audition that they have been given a spot on July 25.

However, this is not the first time the pair have performed at the Palladium. Even at their tender age each has an impressive cv - including previous appearances in the London venue.

Back in May, both performed solo spots there - and before that, Gemma appeared in a Christmas show. In May, Gemma Sang Tell Me It's Not True from the Blues Brothers' repertoire, with a chorus of 250 backing her, while Clare opened the second half, singing Aretha Franklin's Think.

So how does it feel to walk out in front of 3,000 people at one of the most famous theatres in the land? "I was nervous during the intro," says Clare. "But I thought 'I've got to do this right' and I was perfectly all right once I started singing."

Clare had no singing experience before her May debut. She explained: "I made a bet with a little boy at the audition while we were waiting and he was getting cold feet.

"I said that if he sang I would sing All That Jazz. Then I heard him go out and sing . . . I went out and started to sing and suddenly it was like I had a voice."

Pre-performance nerves were a problem for Clare the week before the show - she even fainted at her home in Lincoln Way.

Both girls agree they will be more nervous for the next performance - worried as much as anything: ". . . about letting the other one down."

Neither has ever had singing lessons, though Gemma has always considered herself a singer rather than a dancer. She has left Castle View school and is working as part of the promotions team at Canvey's Kings Club.

Last year, she appeared at London's Lyceum with Robbie Williams, celebrating the Prince of Wales' 50th birthday. She also played Baby Spice in one tribute band - while recently landing a job with another tribute act, inspired by All Saints.

Clare is studying theatre studies and English literature A-levels at St Bernard's School, Westcliff.

Both girls hope to go to college to qualify as dance teachers, although Gemma is keen to tread the boards.

Both girls are lucky to be able to count on the support of their families, although for Clare that involves a trade-off: "My twin brothers, who are 15, are football crazy. They come to all my shows, so I have to go and watch them play football!"

In the meantime, Gemma has a tribute role of her own. A natural brunette, her hair is currently red, as she appears around the country in another pop tribute band imitating girl group B*Witched.

Island girls - the London Palladium holds no terrors for stagestruck duo Clare McPherson and Gemma Donnelly

Picture: ANDY PALMER

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