A BLACKPOOL youngster will prove she's got stars in her eyes when she appears on prime-time television this Saturday night as Olivia Newton-John.

South Shore starlet Cassie Spinks, 16, will emerge like greased lightning from the smoky doors of ITV's Stars In Their Eyes Kids as the famous Aussie actress and singer, singing 'Xanadu'.

Remarkably, Cassie only discovered her singing talents by accident after moving to the resort and being placed, by chance, at a specialist arts college.

She'll be shown going head to head with four other teenagers for a place in the live final on May 31.

"We've been to Manchester and London having outfits made and backing tracks done. It's been a lovely experience," said Cassie's mum, Adele.

"Meeting presenter Cat Deeley was great. She was down-to-earth and really nice," Cassie added.

The teenager's talent might have gone undiscovered, but for a house move.

"We moved to Blackpool from Oxfordshire a couple of years ago. When I contacted the education board the only place they could get Cassie in was at Bispham High."

She quickly got involved in performances there, and her singing was recorded.

"Her teacher thought she sounded like Olivia Newton-John. I thought she sounded like her too so when the address for Stars In Their Eyes came up I got the application form and sent it off for her."

From 30,000 applicants, Cassie got through a tough audition process and in March was offered her place on the show.

"I was quite amazed. I don't actually try to sound like the person that I am," she said.

Her friends back in Bicester -- who didn't know she could sing -- were 'very surprised', but her friends here 'think it's great because everyone's a performer at Bispham High'.

Adele said: "Cassie's sister Chloe, who's nine, is loving every minute of it. She says she's going to have a go next and she's been practising Emma Bunton."

Saturday's show was recorded at Easter in Granada Studios, Manchester, so Cassie will be able to watch it with her mum, sister, proud dad Graham and family and friends during a special party at the family's Everglades Hotel, South Shore.

But if opportunity knocks, Cassie would prefer to stick with her studies and stay firmly behind-the-scenes. "I want to be a lighting engineer," she said.