BLACKPOOL is set to give a big welcome to its brightest new star Jodie Prenger with a huge civic reception tomorrow.
Jodie will be arriving in the resort on her first visit home since landing the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of Oliver!
And now the public will get the chance to congratulate the resort's latest star.
The council is erecting a stage in Talbot Square so she can address the crowds while the roads around Talbot Square will be closed from 9.30am on Saturday, re-opening early afternoon.
Scrapbook to stardom, The Gazette follows Jodies rise to successJodie, 28, victor of the BBC1 talent search I'd Do Anything has been away from home for three months working to the rigorous schedule of the show's demands.
And since winning the people's vote and landing the plum role of Nancy at the weekend, her feet have hardly touched the ground.
She's been in huge demand for press and TV interviews and has appeared on chat shows Loose Women and the Graham Norton Show.
Her mum and dad, Madeleine and Marty, and brother Marko, 21, are planning to give her a real family welcome home.
"She has been away from home for such a long time and has been so busy we will do exactly what she wants.
"The nicest thing for me will be having both my children under the same roof," said Madeleine.
"My house has been tidy for 12 weeks while Jodie's been away!"
Madeleine has decked Jodie's Yorkshire terrier Louis with a purple bow – to match the Nancy dress worn by Jodie in I'd Do Anything.
Council bosses have pulled out the stops to ensure Jodie's homecoming is a memorable one. They have planned a sparkling civic reception at Blackpool Town Hall on Saturday morning so the public can catch a glimpse of our newest celebrity.
A spokesman for Blackpool Council said: "We are really looking forward to welcoming Jodie back.
"We will be throwing a civic reception outside the Town Hall at 11am on Saturday morning so Jodie can consider herself well and truly welcome back to her home turf.
"We know a lot of local people watched the show and supported Jodie throughout so we expect a good turnout.
"The mayor of Blackpool Coun Mary Smith will be on hand to greet Jodie and is really looking forward to meeting her.
"We hope we can give her a really memorable day."
The full article contains 416 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
