
I'm more nervous for duet with Robbie Williams than my gig in front of Pope, says Scots Pop Idol star
She also revealed new details about the gig
STAGE FRIGHT I'm more nervous for duet with Robbie Williams than my gig in front of Pope, says Scots Pop Idol star
MICHELLE McManus has revealed how she's more nervous to perform with Robbie Williams than she was when she sang in front of the Pope.
The Scots Pop Idol winner, 45, will take to the stage with former Take That star on Saturday night at Murrayfield as part of his five-month UK tour.
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Michelle shot to fame in 2003 when she won the second series of Pop Idol
Credit: BBC
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She and Robbie Williams have been pals since the early 2000s
Credit: Reuters
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The pair will take to the stage at Murrayfield tomorrow in front of 70,000 folk
Credit: Alamy
We told previously how Glasgow-born Michelle was interviewing the Angels hitmaker on her BBC Radio Scotland show when he proposed the shock duet.
McManus was stunned to learn she will join huge stars like Kylie and Taylor Swift who have also shared the stage with the Rock DJ chartopper.
But she admitted that the thought of singing to such a large crowd brings on the nerves - more so than her performance for the Pope.
She said: "My happy place is when I sing, so the singing part is not the problem, the nervous part is singing to Robbie Williams in front of 70,000 people.
"When we did the Pope's visit in Bellahouston, it was 80,000 - but singing for a bunch of cardinals and a Pope was slightly different than singing for Robbie Williams."
Michelle rose to fame after winning the second series of the popular talent show back in 2003.
Since then, she has performed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and during Pope Benedict's visit to Glasgow in 2010.
She said: "I'm at a stage in my life now, I'm 45, I've got my two kids, I'm so lucky to be here at BBC Radio Scotland.
"Everything is in place and then comes this big gig at Murrayfield, which was not on my bingo card for this year.
"It's really emotional to be asked by somebody who is your friend to join them on stage, it is a lovely thing."
Robbie Williams discusses film about his life on Graham Norton
McManus and Williams have known each other since the early 2000s when he offered her advice on coping with fame and the media.
Robbie later agreed to be part of her 2023 documentary about talent show winners and even brought her to the London premiere of his acclaimed biopic last December.
While it's still a mystery what they will perform together, Michelle did reveal that her outfit is adorned with 40,000 Swarovski crystals.
Robbie later agreed to be interviewed for her Talent Show Winners TV documentary in 2023 and whisked her to the London screening of his acclaimed biopic in December.
It's not known what the pair will perform tomorrow night, but Michelle did reveal her outfit features 40,000 Swarovski crystals.
She said: "I'm never going to take it off. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever had on my body.
"You will not need to worry about seeing me from the stage, from the colour of my hair and the amount of crystals."
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