By Olivia Acland

STROUD dog groomer Anne Martin swapped her wet sponges and overalls for a sequined bodice and microphone at the weekend to perform on ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes.

The show which returned to our screens after nearly a decade off-air saw Britain’s builders, barmen, teachers, and nurses magically morph into their chosen pop star and perform a top hit to a studio audience.

When Anne found out she would appear on the first show in nine years she couldn’t believe it.

“When they rang me I had to sit down and ask ‘are you sure?’ Then I ran upstairs to tell my son Devon and he screamed with joy. My other son, Kenny, just said ‘Oh mother, what have you done?'” said Anne.

The ITV film crew came to Stroud to film a snapshot of Anne’s life at home and embarrassed Kenny decided not to feature – his empty place on the sofa was signposted.

But Devon partner Chris, and Chihuahua Blossom all took part in the short video which showed the inside Anne’s house as well as glimpsing her at work in the salon, brushing down a French Bulldog.

Saturday night saw the 45-year-old pet groomer emerge from iconic smoky doors clad in a plumed helmet, blue bodice and silver heels to sing Kylie Minogue's 2000 hit On a Night Like This.

“At the age of eighteen or nineteen I used to sing and my friends would tell me – you sound like Kylie,” said Anne.

The performer is not new to the stage; she came second in Stroud’s The S Factor organised by the SNJ and regularly participates in amateur dramatics with Cotswold Antics.

She also admitted that she often sings to her doggy clients.

Despite Anne’s performing past, she still suffered nerves on the day.

“The smoke was so thick I couldn’t see anything, I thought I was going to die of fear, I was just looking into the lights and hoping I’d do Kylie justice,” she said.

Anne's anxiety was far from visible as she glided around the stage, hitting the top notes with ease and giving a performance that could only be described by her canine friends as ‘positively pawesome.’